What would Jesus do?  That was a question that became very popular among religious people several years ago, and while it was turned into a marketing machine that netted someone a lot of money by the sale of bracelets, T-shirts, hats, and various stickers, that bore this question. The question itself is a pretty good one.  Before we act, it is a good idea to ask ourselves what Jesus would do if He were in our situation, and then do whatever we conclude He would do, based on what we know about Him from the Word of God.  This week, let’s take a look at the character of Christ, and then, in an attempt to live Christ-centered lives, do our best to imitate Him.

The first area where we should strive to be like Christ is in our relationship with the Father.  We learn from Jesus how important doing the will of God is.  Regarding His own life, He said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34).  Doing the will of God gave Jesus sustenance and strength.  He lived to do His Father’s will, and so should we.  Making the will of God a priority in life is a part of living a Christ-centered life.  Even at the worse time in His life, the time when His death on the cross was drawing near, Jesus was more concerned with His Father’s will than He was His own.

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)
³⁹  And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

These were the words Jesus uttered when He prayed to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Think of the sins that could be avoided if we all had this mentality all the time.  Most sins come about because of selfishness.  It occurs when we do what we want to do instead of what God wants us to do.  This is something that Jesus never did.

John 8:29 (ESV)
²⁹  And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

There was not a single moment in the life of our Lord when He was not doing what was pleasing to God.  No, we cannot live as morally pure as our Savior did because we have all already sinned (Romans 3:23).  However, we can put forth our best effort to walk in the steps of Jesus every day, and do the will of our heavenly Father.  There is not anything that God demands of us that we cannot do, and He expects us to do what He commands.

Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
²¹  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Maybe we will stumble from time to time, but it is not because we have to, but because we choose to do so.  The more we think of Jesus and strive to be like Him, the more we will avoid sin and fulfill the will of God, giving us an eternal home in the kingdom of heaven.  Let’s all make up our minds to live Christ-centered lives and consistently do the will of God.    

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.