“What would Jesus do?”, often abbreviated as WWJD, is a modern phrase that became widely known among Christians due to the writing of Charles Sheldon and his book, What Would Jesus Do? The pointed term serves as a moral compass to emulate the choices rooted in love, temperance and forgiveness. Whether faced with a trying situation or seeking to grow closer to God, when Christians ask themselves what Jesus would do, it prompts the heart to pursue actions that demonstrate the love of Jesus.
WWJD bracelets have become a cultural movement among Christians. It started in 1989 when a youth minister from Holland, Michigan, was spiritually inspired after reading Sheldon’s book. The minister abbreviated the phrase to WWJD and placed those four powerful letters on bracelets to catch the kids’ attention in her youth ministry and remind them to consider their choices before they act. Today, thousands of kids and adults wear WWJD bracelets, necklaces and other accessories, making it one of the most well-known symbols of the Christian faith.
Throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, we are commanded to Love the Lord with all our heart. When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment of all, He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:37. When we love the Lord first, with all our heart, He gives us the desires of His heart. Loving the Lord allows His light to shine through us so that others may know Him.
Love your neighbor, friend, coworker, spouse, family member or stranger as yourself, and you will be honoring one of Jesus’s greatest commandments. John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Jesus says, “to do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27); “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44); and “bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:27-36).
Having a daily prayer life is crucial to having a personal relationship with Jesus. Whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the day, having quiet time in His word and prayer is where we meet Him, talk with Him and leave our cares at the cross. He hears our prayers, and it is through our daily prayer life that He guides us to His will. Through prayer, He comforts us, restores our hopes, forgives our sins, and opens our hearts to a deeper walk with Him. Mathew 6:6 says, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Jesus prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane, and He gave us the model prayer In this manner, therefore, pray (Mathew 6:9-13)
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Prayer is not the least we can do, it’s the most we can do!
The summation of Jesus Christ’s ministry can be found in Mathew 5:40-41, which says, “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” So when you serve those in need, you are certainly answering the question, what would Jesus do?
Matthew 6:31-34 says, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” When you let go of worry, you make more room for God’s blessings in your life.
