WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Worship Only God! Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1). This is when the devil asked Jesus to prove He was the Son of God. Jesus rebuked and answered all the devils questions. The devil made a final appeal to Jesus. He offered Jesus anything that He wanted if He would only fall down and worship him. (Matthew 4:9). No way is Jesus going to bow to Satan. Then Jesus rebuked the Devil and set him straight. "Get behind thee, Satan!" I will worship the Lord thy God, and Him only will I serve. (Matthew 4:10). Christ wanted no part of what Satan had to offer, and neither should we. "We are to serve and worship the Living God of Israel." (1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Honor His Father and Mother. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise. (Ephesians 6:2). This is the first of God's ten commandments that end with a promise. The promise is that if you honor your parents, you will have a long life full of blessings. (Ephesians 6:3). "Disrespect your parents and expect a miserable life."
Pray and Talk with God the Father. In Luke 11, the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him the proper way to pray as Christ prayed to the Father. Jesus recited to them the Lord's prayer. (Luke 11:1-4). Talk to God, He wants to hear from you on a regular basis. When you communicate with Him, He will never leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).
Preach His message of repentance. John the Baptist was well know for his message of repentance. (Matthew 3:1-2). Jesus also taught the importance of repentance. (Luke 13:3). And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47). "Written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to "all nations," that there is forgiveness of sins for all who repent." (All people of every race).
Make friends and disciples of the Word. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19). Teach His word. All ethnos (all nations, all people), Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20). Teach these new disciples all things in His Word. "All of it." And be sure that I will be with you till the end of the world. (End of this world age). Amen.
Would help the poor. Jesus had no problem when it came to helping the poor, but it is a little harder for some people. We have a young man that tells Jesus he obeys all the laws of righteousness. How many times we hear this one from people and preachers. Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. (Matthew 19:21). If you want to be perfect like you say, go and sell all you have and give it to the poor and build your treasures in heaven. Jesus knew this mans weak spot. No way he was giving up the goods, and the young man went away sorrowful. (Matthew 19:22).
Comforted the poor in Spirit. (Matthew 25:35). For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: (Matthew 25:35). I was hungry and you fed me. (Fed Me the truth of God's Word). I was thirsty and you gave me water. (The Living water of Christ that quenches all thirst). I was a stranger and you took me in your home. (Gave me that place of rest within your heart). I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:36). Naked and you clothed me. (Clothed Me with the Gospel Armor of God). Sick and in prison, and you visited me. (Sick and in bondage to false teachings, church doctrine, and traditions of men). "Now the truth will set you free." (John 8:32).
Love His enemies. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. (Luke 6:27). Jesus did it and He wants us to follow His ways. Try to love your enemies, and to those who may have ears to hear, do good to them. Plant the seed to the sinners, because you never know how it may take and change their ways. (Romans 12:20). Jesus would not only love His enemies, but would pray for those who persecuted Him. (Matthew 5:44). But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44). Well, it may be hard at first, but Jesus tells us to love our enemies (as Gods children). If they curse you, "give them a blessing." If they persecute you, "pray for and forgive them." Jesus did it throughout the new testament, you can do it too. Jesus did not play favorites, but loved everyone as equals. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45). "He gives sunlight on both good and evil, and rains on the just and unjust alike." God at times does good things for bad people, just like doing good things for good people. (Everyone deserves a chance, everyone deserves a blessing).
WHAT DOES JESUS WANT US TO DO?
Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37). This covers the first five commandments. (the spiritual commandments). This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:38). Again, this first greatest commandment refers to and covers the first five of the ten commandments.
Love our neighbors. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:39). All the last five commandments are covered with this statement. (the civil commandments). On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:40). Christ covered all the ten commandments in these two commandments. (all the law of the prophets are fulfilled in these two commandments). Jesus, always so wise in His answers. Fulfilling these two commandments, fulfils all the commandments. If you love God, you won't break the first five commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:7-16). If you love your neighbor, you won't break the last five commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:17-21).
Wants us all to come to repentance. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord is not being slow about His return and promise of eternal life, He is just being patient for our sake. His will is that everyone come to repentance and no one should perish. He wants everyone to believe in Him, "He just wants our love." (Hosea 6:6).
Be careful what we sow. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7). You can't fool God. You will reap what you sow. Do good and good things will happen to you. Do evil and expect trouble coming your way. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8). If you search out doctrine or material things to please your flesh, you will reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death. But, if you search and plant good sound doctrine and truth in the Word (good things of the spirit), then you will reap the everlasting life which the Holy Spirit offers.
For us not to worry. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (Matthew 6:31). Here is a more important thought. Remember that the famine in the end times is for hearing the Word of God. (Amos 8:11). Christ is that bread of life that we should be concerned with. (Matthew 4:4). "When your belly is full, make sure your spirit is fed as well." For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Matthew 6:32). This is what the heathen nations seek (unbelievers or heathens). Our Heavenly Father already knows what we need as believers. (Luke 12:30).
Seek the truth. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33). Seek the Kingdom of God! Live righteously, take action, and seek the "truth of His Word" and make Him first in your life, and He will give you everything you need for peace of mind and happiness in this world. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:34). Today's troubles are enough to worry about if your a worrywart. Forget about tomorrow, "take it one day at a time." (Luke 11:3, Hebrews 13:5-6, John 14:27, 16:33). And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32). The truth in the Word will always set you free. Free from what? Free from the old law, traditions of men, false teachings, and ways of the world. Most important, "Free from being a slave to Satan."
Adhere to the Golden Rule. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12). To sum it up, this is the law of love. "Do to others what you want them to do to you." (Luke 6:31). The "law of liberty," "love your neighbor as thyself." (Galatians 5:13-14).
Talk to Him. Jesus is your closest friend. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15). This word Servant is "doulos" Strong's #G1401 meaning "a slave" and would read: I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in His slaves. Now you are My friend, since I confide in you by telling you everything the Father told Me. In (Mark 10:43), Jesus encourages us to embrace the role of a servant. But here, Jesus shows us that our relationship with Him goes beyond servant. "He calls us friend." Just as Abraham was called the friend of God. (James 2:23). It happened just as the scripture said. Abraham trusted God, and God called him His friend. (Isaiah 41:8).
God hears you. The Lord is near to all you call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:18-19). Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7). Christ is not speaking of material things here. He is speaking of God's Word and one that is following His work. Ask for something that will further the will of God. Ask for wisdom and knowledge in His Word, "then He will open the door to you." Jesus loves when you talk to Him; and He loves when you talk about Him to others. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20). Teach all things in His Word. "All of it." "And be sure that He will be with you till the end of this world age."
Keep the faith,
Barton