This Lent, I’m bringing back an old saying that many of us (who are a certain age) will remember: W.W.J.D.
Yes, that means “What would Jesus do?” In the 90s, we had bracelets, banners, bumper stickers, and books, all to help us pause and reflect on whether our behavior was in line with or reflected what Jesus would do.
As Christians, we are called to emulate Jesus in our words and deeds, but do we? When someone has wronged us, are we quick to forgive? Or do we hold on to our righteous indignation because they deserve it? Do we seek to be compassionate to those in need or walk a mile in our brother’s shoes so as to understand his plight? Or do we ignore them and hope they don’t ask us for help? How many times do we roll up the windows of our cars and turn our heads in the opposite direction when we see a brother or sister walking towards us with a cup in their hand and a sign around their neck saying “Homeless”? How often do we give, but do so with selfish motives instead of freely giving because God freely gave it to us?
Lent is a time of reflection, repentance, and reform. As we reflect upon the sacrifice Jesus made because of His love for us, it is clear and without question that He CHOSE to do what He did. Nowhere in scripture do we read that God the Father made Him do it. When tempted by Satan to abort the mission for a promise of comfort and convenience in this world, He chose not to trade love for power. After all, He knew who He was and He had nothing to prove.
As we reflect upon Jesus’ life, mission, and ministry, we see a call to service and sacrifice woven through every aspect of His being. Jesus isn’t asking us to die for someone else – although that’s the supreme sacrifice – but He is asking us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him,” (Matthew 16:24). Is it always easy? No. But Jesus would never ask us to do anything we are really not capable of, and He promised that His grace would be sufficient to bear whatever confronts us. In fact, He gives us a Helper, called the Holy Spirit, to help us along the way.
To truly begin to reflect the nature of Christ, we have to be honest with ourselves regarding all the ways we fall short of being and doing what pleases Him. That brings me to my second “R” on our Lenten journey – repentance.
Repentance involves acknowledging our sins, shortcomings, our stuff – and humbling ourselves, not just to ask God for forgiveness, but to put on our big girl and big boy pants and ask for forgiveness from whomever we may have harmed by our actions, as well as choose to forgive those who wronged us. In fact, the second part of that really pushes us to go the extra mile, because what Jesus actually said in Matthew 5:23-24 is, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”
I must tell you, My Chickadees, that was a hard one for me to swallow! It means choosing to forgive someone who hurt you, even though you are still feeling the pain of their action. It means forgiving them despite the fact that they did not ask for your forgiveness, and you really don’t feel they deserve your forgiveness. Trust me, I get it. The upside of forgiveness is that you deserve to be free of the toxicity that harboring anger, resentment, and unforgiveness can create in you. You deserve the peace Christ died to give you. I am sure that with all that Jesus went through for us, He understands our feeling justified to feel what we feel. But I am told that fresh water and salt water can’t dwell in the same place. I have learned to trust God and obey, and as I said earlier, God would not ask us to do anything we could not do. It does require that we cast the hurt, anger, and pride on to Him and ask Him to help us do what we feel we can’t do. Repentance also has a twofold charge. Part two of asking for forgiveness is making the commitment not to do that infraction again.
Once we have reflected on our lives in comparison to Jesus, and we repent and choose to forgive, God can freely move in our lives to do the last R, which is reform us. God desires to make us, mold us, and shape us into New Creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), but apart from our submission and consent, no change will happen. He promised to make our lives new and exchange our stony hearts for hearts of flesh. He promised to shape us and make us into vessels of honor. The prophet Jeremiah used the analogy of putting us on the potter’s wheel, and as He refines us, He gives us beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).
Lent is a time to rededicate ourselves to Christ and be renewed in our relationship with Him. As His children, we should reflect the character and characteristics of our Daddy. This Lenten season, I challenge you and me. Let’s revive the slogan W.W.J.D. and commit to not only asking the question “What would Jesus do?”… but doing it.
I Pray you have a blessed Resurrection Sunday, my Chickadees.
Peace and Blessings, and share this with a friend!
Gail