 |  |  |
What would love do?
Good question.
“What would Christ do?” is a question that is often given us to use as a litmus test when pondering potential actions. A recent speaker in church challenged us to change the question to “What would I do if Christ were here?”
Good question.
As I pondered the “What would I do if Christ were here?” question I concluded the question was not a good one for me, as I am prone to posturing. I fear that, if Christ were next to me, I would be so caught up in being good that I would not be good; my actions might be right but my heart might not. I needed a..
Good question.
“What would Christ do?” is a question that has not always worked for me as there are still many things I do not know of Christ. I know that He always did and always will do the Father’s will, that He always did and always will be honest and true, and that He always did and always will be motivated by charity but I do not always know how His obedience, integrity, and love translate into action. What does doing what Christ would do look like “on the floor”, so to speak? Is it clearing the temple forcefully with a “scourge of small cords”? (John 2:15) Is it gently and compassionately, without condemnation or lecture, speaking to the adulteress? (John 8:11) Is it publically condemning the Pharisees, calling them “a generation of vipers”? (Matthew 12:34) Is it feeding the five thousand, some of whom were faithful followers and others simply thrill seekers? (Mark 6:34-44) Is it rebuking dedicated disciples momentarily overcome by fear; “Oh ye of little faith?” he said…? (Matthew 8:26) Is it healing the ear of one who would hurt him? (Luke 22:51) Or challenging the righteousness of a believer; “go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor” he told the rich, young ruler…? (Matthew 19:21) Is it tenderly calling the little children to Him, blessing and honoring them? (Luke 18:16) Always loving, Christ was not always gentle. Always obedient to His Father’s sovereignty, Christ was not always respectful of man’s authority. Always honest, Christ was not always soft-spoken. What would Christ do?
Good question.
And a question to which I do not always know the answer. I am at a point in my life where sometimes I really do not know what Christ would do. When should I act gently and compassionately, without condemnation or lecture, and when should I arm myself with a “scourge of small cords” and clear the temple, so to speak? When do I ask hard questions to challenge righteousness and when do I tenderly invite little ones (and aren’t we all little ones in one way or another) to come to me for hugs, literal and/or figurative? When do I speak against faithlessness and when do I feed the flock?
Good question.
As I study Christ, one clear character trait emerges: love. My interactions with Him and His Father are defined by the same trait: love. “God is love” John tells us (1 John 4:8) and I believe it is that simple. God is love. Love is Christ’s power; it is defines Him, describes Him, and directs Him. His love is universal and it is specific; it is given universally to all God’s children and applied specifically to each individual situation. If I am to follow Christ, to model my behavior after His, I must also act universally and specifically, loving everyone and manifesting that love individually. What would love do?
Good question.
That is my question for the year 2017. What would love do? And my resolution is to embrace the answer, whatever it is, and act upon it. How well will I do it?
Good question!!!
May God bless me in my efforts and may He bless you in yours as well.
Love,
Teresa
Good question.
“What would Christ do?” is a question that is often given us to use as a litmus test when pondering potential actions. A recent speaker in church challenged us to change the question to “What would I do if Christ were here?”
Good question.
As I pondered the “What would I do if Christ were here?” question I concluded the question was not a good one for me, as I am prone to posturing. I fear that, if Christ were next to me, I would be so caught up in being good that I would not be good; my actions might be right but my heart might not. I needed a..
Good question.
“What would Christ do?” is a question that has not always worked for me as there are still many things I do not know of Christ. I know that He always did and always will do the Father’s will, that He always did and always will be honest and true, and that He always did and always will be motivated by charity but I do not always know how His obedience, integrity, and love translate into action. What does doing what Christ would do look like “on the floor”, so to speak? Is it clearing the temple forcefully with a “scourge of small cords”? (John 2:15) Is it gently and compassionately, without condemnation or lecture, speaking to the adulteress? (John 8:11) Is it publically condemning the Pharisees, calling them “a generation of vipers”? (Matthew 12:34) Is it feeding the five thousand, some of whom were faithful followers and others simply thrill seekers? (Mark 6:34-44) Is it rebuking dedicated disciples momentarily overcome by fear; “Oh ye of little faith?” he said…? (Matthew 8:26) Is it healing the ear of one who would hurt him? (Luke 22:51) Or challenging the righteousness of a believer; “go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor” he told the rich, young ruler…? (Matthew 19:21) Is it tenderly calling the little children to Him, blessing and honoring them? (Luke 18:16) Always loving, Christ was not always gentle. Always obedient to His Father’s sovereignty, Christ was not always respectful of man’s authority. Always honest, Christ was not always soft-spoken. What would Christ do?
Good question.
And a question to which I do not always know the answer. I am at a point in my life where sometimes I really do not know what Christ would do. When should I act gently and compassionately, without condemnation or lecture, and when should I arm myself with a “scourge of small cords” and clear the temple, so to speak? When do I ask hard questions to challenge righteousness and when do I tenderly invite little ones (and aren’t we all little ones in one way or another) to come to me for hugs, literal and/or figurative? When do I speak against faithlessness and when do I feed the flock?
Good question.
As I study Christ, one clear character trait emerges: love. My interactions with Him and His Father are defined by the same trait: love. “God is love” John tells us (1 John 4:8) and I believe it is that simple. God is love. Love is Christ’s power; it is defines Him, describes Him, and directs Him. His love is universal and it is specific; it is given universally to all God’s children and applied specifically to each individual situation. If I am to follow Christ, to model my behavior after His, I must also act universally and specifically, loving everyone and manifesting that love individually. What would love do?
Good question.
That is my question for the year 2017. What would love do? And my resolution is to embrace the answer, whatever it is, and act upon it. How well will I do it?
Good question!!!
May God bless me in my efforts and may He bless you in yours as well.
Love,
Teresa
RSS Feed
