Do you remember the trend about 20 years ago when everyone was wearing WWJD bracelets? I think we should bring back the trend, or at least the original intent of the bracelet. You’ll remember that WWJD stands for “What Would Jesus Do?” and wearing it was supposed to remind you how to act or react throughout your lives. We have been taught so many great lessons through parables from Jesus, but He also taught us through His actions.
1 Peter 2:21 says, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.”
Over the past 18 months, I have done some studying and production on a project that will become a new aspect of the music ministry here at Riverside. With God’s guidance, I have put the Word into the form of worship music and will be releasing three songs under the name “Riverside Worship” very soon. After sitting down with Pastor Cory at the beginning of this project, we developed the idea to share the story of the Gospel and the example that Jesus left us through His actions. The 3-part project has the same tagline as our church: Live Love Lead.
At Riverside, we strive to be a people that learns about the life of Christ so that we can live the way Jesus wanted us to. We are taught to love God and love others the way Jesus did. And we are called to be leaders and to share the story of Christ and that He is the Son of God who died for our sins. I had a great experience with this project internally. It was a great self-reflection tool and a great way to connect with Christ, to know Him better so that I can serve Him with the spiritual gifts that He has blessed me with. It was also a great exercise because of my good friends and talented artists that helped me along the way.
Today, I’d like to open chapter one and elaborate more on what it means to me to LIVE like Christ.
Galations 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
It can be difficult sometimes to put God first when you have bills to pay, deadlines at work to meet, a family to care for or any other distractor. But the truth is that we live today BECAUSE Jesus died for us, and we must trust Him in good times and bad times. Our actions and our words should reflect that of Jesus. We are sinners and of course we aren’t going to be flawless, but one amazing thing about how Jesus lived is that He sought out those who were lost. We should do the same with our lives. It can be comfortable to surround yourself with like-minded people, but we should be expending our gifts and energies to reach those we are not comfortable around, or those that hold different beliefs, or those that we just flat out don’t know yet. Whether it be a religious, political, racial or social difference, the example that Jesus gave us teaches us to love everyone as He loved us. Here are a few verses that resonated in me, and hopefully will serve as good reminders for you.
Ephesians 4:32 says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”
And finally, John 13:13-17 says, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
I hope this served as a good reminder to ask yourself, “What Would Jesus Do?” amidst these unusual times, and that you are inspired to strive to be more Christ-like today and everyday. Keep an eye out for more on Riverside Worship over the next month. Thank you all for reading, and have a great day!
Blessings,
Ryan
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