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THRIVE MINISTRIES
www.thriveministry.net

July 7, 2008 – Monday Morning E-Devotions
“THRIVING Through Following HIM” – Kent Ross (Ohio)

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
Had no army, yet kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

            As I thought about this poem, my mind meandered over a paper tract that had some of the same thoughts. Then my mind further meandered (can you see a pattern here?) over the book by Sheldon, titled “In His Steps.”
            That wonderful book, fiction, but . . . is about a town challenged to ask themselves each day What Would Jesus Do? I thought after finishing that book that it was a good read, but it came to mean more than that as I began to ask that of myself.
            What was it about Jesus and His life that comes back to challenging us to ask that of ourselves today, nearly 2000 years later, What Would Jesus Do?” In my daily walk, how do I think He might respond?
            Most times I just respond, but every once in a while, and more each year, I’m trying to ask myself what would Jesus do in my situation. Certainly I don’t always think that way, and even when I ask that of myself, I sometimes go ahead and do it my way, but I am trying to ask it before I respond.
            What would Jesus do with that driver who cut me off, who whipped around me and cut in front of me? I doubt Jesus would think about shooting him, as has occurred to me at times. Or what about the person at a Board meeting who is yelling about his point (which is stoopid, to my way of thinking). Or when my wife (bless her heart) says something so dumb when she doesn’t agree with me.
            I remember a counselor at Ministerial Conference saying, “Nobody can make you mad?” I immediately thought his was an idiotic idea! Of course people can make you mad. It happened to me all the time, back then. But as I have grown older, I’ve come to think he was right.
            Nobody can make me mad. I may choose to be mad, but he or she can’t make me mad. Now Jesus got mad a few times in His ministry – at the Pharisees, at the moneychangers in the temple – but in spite of fierce provocation, he usually kept himself under control, and look at His influence down through the centuries.
            Good question this morning, asking yourself “What Would Jesus Do” if He walked beside me and helped me decide how to respond to my life situations today? Wait a minute! That’s the way it should be today . . . and every day!