Wrong Question

By Jim Huskins

McDowell County

One of the more enduring Christian fads is an implication of the question: What Would Jesus Do? W.W.J.D. appears in many formats, especially bracelets. During the years just before and after the turn of this century, those bracelets were everywhere.

I am in favor of believers aligning their lives more closely with that of the Son of God and communicating that intention. I question, however, any need to ponder how Jesus might respond to circumstance. Rather than speculating about what He might do, our time would be better spent learning what He has already done.

First, Jesus devoted Himself to implementing God’s plan. His mission is clear: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38) “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.” (John 12:49) “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

In a way that I do not fully understand, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One. The Hebrew word for this unity is “echad.” Despite being One, each of God’s revealed forms has different roles. 1 Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” In the work of redeeming mankind, the Son is subordinate to the Father. Jesus did what He had been told.

A second focus of Jesus’ life is His knowledge of Scripture. Of course this was less of a challenge for Him since He is divine, and He wrote the Book. Through a Spirit-fortified intimacy with God’s Word, we are enabled to rebuke the demonic power which surrounds us. “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

During His temptation, Jesus resisted the devil by quoting scripture. Many Christians believe and teach that the majority of God’s Word is no longer relevant. They claim to be “new testament” believers and that “all that Law stuff” does not apply to them. Jesus demonstrated a radically different perspective. When confronted with the most significant temptations satan ever conveyed, Jesus responded three times by quoting the book of Deuteronomy. When accused by the Pharisees of “eating with sinners and tax collectors,” He quoted Hosea 6:6, “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice.” (Matthew 9:10-13) Jesus said that the Law and the Prophets will be in undiminished effect for as long as heaven and earth remain. How can we who claim to follow Him ignore three-fourths of the Bible?

Jesus also devoted Himself to prayer. The Gospels contain many references to Messiah’s prayer life. These include Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 3:21, and John 16:26. He prayed before many of His miracles. Luke 5:16 says that He often slipped away to the wilderness to pray. In Matthew 26:53, He affirmed the power of prayer by telling His disciples that He could ask the father for an army of angels. At the climax of His existential crisis, He fell on His face at Gethsemane and prayed for hours. While He was being slowly tortured to death, He prayed for those who tormented Him. Both Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:34 say that Jesus still prays on our behalf in His role as High Priest. One of the most powerful and least understood aspects of Jesus’ prayer life is revealed in Hebrews 5:7, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”

Here is the key to understanding both what Jesus did and what He expects us to be doing. His prayers were effective because of His piety. Piety is obedience to God’s instructions for living. Piety is the opposite of sin. 1 John 3:4 says that sin is breaking God’s Law. The only way to keep from sinning is to obey God’s Law. He hears our prayers when we devote ourselves to living according to His holy standards.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is both our guide and example. He obeyed God’s instructions for living, and so should we. Do not make the mistake of thinking that we love God and others by attempting to project nebulous “warm thoughts and feelings.” Biblical love is not about feelings. Biblical love is about action. Do not be deceived by the false doctrines which claim that “grace” makes obedience unnecessary or that grace and Law are incompatible. See Revelation 14:12. Scripture teaches that our job is to live as Jesus lived among us. 1 John 2:3-4 says that the only evidence of a saving relationship with Jesus is our sincere attempt to keep His commandments. That passage goes on to say, “Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him. Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” 

Religious graffiti will never convince anyone that we belong to the one who died for us. The only way to stand out from the members of this lost world is to live like Jesus lived. We never need to wonder what He might do. We have the powerful, unambiguous example of His life. The only legitimate question is, will we be imitators of Him, or will we decide that our own priorities are more important. Thank God that salvation is by grace through faith, but lives to which Holy God calls us are devoted to obedience.

Obedient Heart Fellowship meets each Sabbath (Seventh Day) at 3023 US 221 N. Marion, NC. 10:00 A.M. 828-460-7913

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Jim & Beverly Huskins are members of Obedient Heart Fellowship in McDowell County. Beginning July 2, 2022 Obedient Heart Fellowship will meet at 10:00 Each Sabbath (Seventh Day) at 3023 US 221 N. Marion, NC. 10:00 A.M. Call 828-460-7913 for info.

You can read more good Christian news from Jim HERE.

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