What Would Jesus Do?

What Would Jesus Do?

You may have heard that you should be an imitator of Jesus. Maybe it was phrased as a question, "what would Jesus do?"

Some would seem to be telling you to look at the four accounts of the earthly life of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and find examples of good behavior to emulate.

Ephesians 5:1-2 makes very clear what imitating Christ looks like. It says “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (NASB 2020) To imitate Christ is to walk in love, as He loved us and gave Himself for us. Imitation of Christ is to live a life characterized by love.

This is exactly what Jesus Himself said. He gave us a new command. In John 13:34 He said, “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (NASB 2020)

This isn't a set of "how-to" steps to correctly imitate Jesus. Instead, it points us to Christ in us. That's our hope of glory. (see Colossians 1:27) Holy Spirit is producing loving fruit in us. (see Galatians 5:22) The love of God is poured all over our new hearts. (see Romans 5:5) Romans 13:10 puts it this way, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.” (NASB 2020)

Christ in us prompts our soft new hearts toward loving. His Spirit agrees with our spirit because we have been made one spirit with Him. (see Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 6:17)

Ephesians 5 goes on to tell us that we once were darkness, but now we are light. That's what makes it possible for us to live as children of light.

It's the power of the Gospel. It's the grace of God.

Trust that.

Walk by faith in that.

And watch what He does.