In my small group this week, we asked the question,”Who has Jesus been to you?” It’s a really good question. Everyone in group had different answers, including myself. Jesus has been many things to me. He’s, of course, my savior, but He’s also a role model. In fact, recently that is what I have been focusing on the most in my relationship with Him. Many of us know Jesus as our savior, friend, counselor, and brother, but how many of us treat Jesus as a role model? Many of us know that we should be like Jesus, but how many of us would say that Jesus is our role model?
When I was first introduced to the church the acronym WWJD was everywhere. In case you were like me and never heard this before, it means “what would Jesus do.” The challenge was to emulate Jesus in everything you do. Find $5 on the ground? WWJD? Your friends start gossiping? WWJD? Feeling too tired to go to church? WWJD? I know that every christian would agree that everyone should be more like Jesus. There’s a big problem with this idea. It relies on everyone knowing exactly who Jesus is, and not everyone really knows Jesus. Even worse, many don’t know that they don’t know Jesus.
In the absence of knowing Jesus, people start making things up. When we start making things up, we draw from the only thing we know, ourselves. The Jesus we make up looks a lot like ourselves. Jesus wouldn’t have a problem with my road rage because I don’t. Jesus would get angry with my kids, too. Jesus understands that I’m busy and that’s why I can’t spend time with Him. When we don’t know who Jesus is the answer to WWJD is whatever I would do, and that doesn’t change me at all.
You can’t become more like someone you don’t know, so how can you get to know Jesus better? The answer is to read His word. The Bible is Christ’s autobiography. It is how God decided to reveal Himself to His creation. Every Sunday in Kid’s church we play this song before we talk about that week’s Bible lesson. The main theme of this song is that the Bible in alive. Upon hearing this, one of the kids replied with,”The Bible can’t be alive. It’s a book,” He didn’t get the metaphor. The Bible isn’t alive because it has a pulse or can breath. It’s alive because it can change us. When you really get into God’s word, it has a way of speaking to you. God’s word has this ability to change how you think. Take a look at Romans 12:2.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)
God’s word has the power to rewire our mind. The ironic thing is that people who constantly renew their minds don’t need to ask WWJD because they truly are becoming like Him. Their actions are the actions of Christ. When I read my Bible, I not only become more like Christ, but Christ starts to look less like me.
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