WWJD

I remember when I was younger, the trend among Christians was the phrase, “WWJD”. We wore it on t-shirts and bracelets. For a few years, everywhere you looked you could read WWJD. What Would Jesus Do. I don’t see it around so much anymore, but the challenge still holds true for me.

Brethren, have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2.5-11

When was the last time you humbled yourself for someone else? When was the last time you lowered yourself to a status that was beneath you to serve others? When was the last time you asked yourself WWJD?

Our Christian journey is about becoming as much like Christ as we are able. It begins with understanding Who Christ is, and what He did. He is God and He became a ‘low’ human, and He did it to save us from eternal fire.

Church history is filled with examples of holy men and women who answered the question, WWJD, by living exactly as Christ did. They offered themselves totally for others. They became humble servants. They became obedient to God even unto death. Like Christ, they were exalted. Here is one example from the saints commemorated today.

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons was martyred ‘just because’ he brought the joy and truth of Orthodoxy alive in a pagan city. You can read a brief explanation of him here. He was one of the earliest Christian bishops who refused to sit quietly when others were speaking falsehoods about God. He answered the call, WWJD, with his life’s work. He was exalted by God for his faith.

If we want to be exalted by God, maybe we don’t need to be martyred, but we need to stand for truth. We need to be willing, at least, to be obedient even to death. We need to be a servant for Christ to others. In one small way, I pray Be Transfigured Ministries can serve some of that call. I pray our daily blog, sermons and bible studies serve your needs in your journey to answer the question, WWJD.