What Would Jesus Do?

A familiar phrase over the last several years is WWJD or What Would Jesus  Do.  I have often wondered that same question over the last 40 years myself.  What would He do?

One of my life scripture verses, and one that helps define what Jesus did and what He expects us to do is Matthew 25:31-40.  It reads;

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

This passage has had a great impact in my life and still does today.  What does it tell us as Christians?

There isn't any point in arguing the John 3:16 point of salvation because it stands on it's own merit. Beyond the salvation point true salvation is demonstrated by the actions of one who has been saved.  The question here is what does one do after they are saved?

It is clear when considering all that is said by Jesus and reiterated by Paul that true salvation involves action from the believer.  Jesus tells us in this passage that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned we are ministering in the way that He wants us to.

Years ago I would ask people if they were Christians? Most would say yes but their life didn't reflect it. Many would say they were saved in a revival when they were six years old or a similar age. You know what I am talking about, the old once saved; always saved dogma.

Later I began asking, "Where do you attend church on a regular basis?" That is a little more direct and will bring one closer to the truth of one's salvation. Now days I ask, "How are you fulfilling the call of God in your life?"

Why is the latter question more important? Because you can determine where the person is spiritually. You will know them by their fruits.

We are to do what Jesus tells us we should do.  The bible passage above is clear.  When we do it to the least of these we are doing it to Jesus.  Then we are doing what Jesus did.  We don't like to do it because it takes us out of our comfort zone.  I believe the call of God continually takes us out of our comfort zone.  Why?  So that we learn to place our trust in Him.

If we are fulfilling the call of God for salvation, which is by the way all of our ministries, then there is a stark warning at the beginning of this passage. Jesus will have all of the nations in front of Him and He will separate them sheep from goats.  He will set the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left.

The right hand is a place of favor and honor.  The left hand is a place to convey an impression of their worthlessness.

One can say that this thread sounds like a works to salvation theory and that would be an inaccurate assumption.  You can say that we are saved by grace and you would be correct. Ephesians 2:8 However James 2:18 says, "show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works." As true Christians we do these things out of gratitude of a salvation that isn't deserved and because Jesus encourages us to for our own benefit.

One last remark.  Oral Roberts said it best when he said that by doing this, "We know Him (Jesus) in doing His works and in doing them in as much to Him as for Him."