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HOUSMAIL HM#035 -   WHAT WOULD JESUS DO                               13 September 1999
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Of course this is EXACTLY the question a Christian should ALWAYS ask when deciding what to do! If we TRULY BELIEVE Jesus, we know that, beyond all dispute, His answer to that question, is the ONLY correct choice; and that doing things His way is the ONLY way to please God. That is called FAITH! And faith like that leads inevitably to action! (James 2:20-26)

If Jesus is TRULY our Lord, and if we TRULY love Him, then we will want to ask it, and when we have the answer, WE WILL OBEY His commandments. (Luke 6:46, John 14:15,23)

There is no "legalism" in this. Nor does it fly in the face of "grace"!

It boils down to a simple question of whether or not the grace we have received, leads us to BELIEVE Jesus enough, and LOVE Jesus enough! If we have TRULY received REAL grace, it is the only possible response!

We MUST NOT attempt to evade this hard test of LOVE! Jesus Himself laid down the challenge. "He who DOES NOT LOVE ME does not keep my words." (John 14:23) _________________________________________________________________________

BEWARE THE "GOSPEL CHANGERS"!
Many modern "gospels" pay lip service to asking what Jesus would do.

Alas ..... all too often, these gospels finish up dodging AROUND what Jesus actually said or did, and telling us instead, what SOMEONE ELSE would do! (Such as Moses!) Learn to recognise the symptoms of this modern infection which plagues the Church to the EXCLUSION of the REAL Gospel!

To avoid this mistake in OURSELVES, we will need to be VERY HONEST about our motives. Let us never make the dreadful mistake of regarding what Jesus said as "inconvenient" or "impractical". Let us never fall victim to our own desire to justify doing things OUR OWN WAY instead. Let us never "shop around" until we find a way to EXPLAIN AWAY what Jesus said. And let us never seek to ease our consciences about doing something different.

Most important of all, let us NEVER grow lazy in our search for the answers about what Jesus would do.

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." (Prov 13:4)

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee..... O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day ..... Through thy precepts I get understanding." (Psalm 119:11,97,104)

Only when we become SINGLE MINDED about those things, are we guaranteed answers to our prayers for wisdom! (James 1:5-8) _________________________________________________________________________

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Jesus isn't just a "good example" of optional good behaviour .....

HE IS OUR LORD ..... TO BE BELIEVED, AND LOVED, AND OBEYED ..... REGARDLESS OF PERSONAL COST!!!!! (Luke 14:25-33)

Allon _________________________________________________________________________

Of course the biggest question of all is:

Well ..... It isn't easy! But then neither is it impossible! Jesus left us both a commandment, and very clear instructions about how to love that way!

God willing that will be adressed in the next HOUSMAIL.

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