To follow Jesus implies that we enter into a way of life that is given character and shape and direction by the one who calls us. To follow Jesus means picking up rhythms and ways of doing things that are often unsaid but always derivative from Jesus formed by the influence of Jesus. To follow Jesus means that we cannot separate what Jesus is saying from what Jesus is doing and the Way he is doing it.
I have a recommendation for an enterprising Christian businessperson. Think of how the letters WWJD have been used. Why don’t you also sell bracelets, T-shirts, and bumper stickers with these letters: HWJDI? They stand for “How Would Jesus Do It?” It would be very helpful in reframing what it means to live the Jesus Way.
If we consider just “What would Jesus do?” we leave Jesus’ teaching and guidance at a superficial level. It isn’t just what Jesus would do; it is how Jesus would do it. Simply put, Jesus would do it as a servant.
We want to be clear about how Jesus lived as a servant. We hear stories of church splits and arguments among church staff members, and we wonder, Why is it that people in churches struggle so much to love others? The answer is simple: because we do not approach our following of Christ as servants. Being a servant to people displaces our judgments of them. It leads us to forgiveness and mercy.
Servanthood is a powerful position to live in, but we can’t approach it directly because we don’t have what it takes to do it. So let’s look at how we come to the place where we can live out redemptive servanthood for those around us and for our own life.
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