SHARE Magazine October 2016 | Page 17

WWJD What Would Jesus Do? lifeline. Think on Jesus’ life changing question, that could change the course of events. Just say to yourself, What would Jesus Do? Just like His mother Mary said, “Whatever He tells you to do… do it;” but most of all remember, we are all sinners saved by grace. This woman may never have known or heard of Jesus until that day. She knew Him after that. (I would love to know what Jesus was writing in the dust wouldn’t you?) There are many places that we know that Jesus would certainly not want us to go or things that He would not want us to do. He would say He only does what His Father tells Him or shows Him. This is wonderful because as Christians we should be just the same. How many times have you been nudged by the Holy Spirit not to go somewhere or not to behave in a certain way? If unsure when in these situations. STOP and ask What would Jesus do? If He says NO then walk away, if you are still unsure then try to remember what the Bible says. After all the Bible is the Word of God and Jesus is, The Living Word! My testimony, over the past 40 years, contains accounts of unforgiveness, yours may not yet. I believe forgiving others is one of the hardest things that Jesus did and asks us to do. He says in Matthew 5, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you” WHY? That is a real tall order. I have heard many people say those immortal words. ‘I will never forgive them for what they did to me’ or ‘ How can I ever forgive that?’ Unforgiveness leads to bitterness and the root of bitterness in a person’s life can lead to all sorts of emotional and physical problems. God made us and knows what keeps us healthy and well. Whoever it is on your list of people you have not forgiven, ask yourself What would Jesus do? Plus, if we do not forgive, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. It also hinders our prayers from going to God. Forgiveness is a choice, it does not happen overnight. It starts with a choice. We must ask Jesus to help us to forgive.’ The result may take weeks, months or in some cases even years, it depends how long the root of bitterness, which is extremely painful, has been there. Once the process starts just watch the pain disappear and whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:2 Jesus hung on a cruel cross, impaled with nails, bleeding and dying a slow death and yet from that situation He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Luke 23:24. Of course we don’t understand it all but by faith, next time you are feeling like you have been ‘crucified’ remember Jesus… What did He do? Just say those words; “Father [ I ] forgive them for they know not what they do.” You may have to say it many times, I have, but believe me there is nothing more liberating than, FORGIVENESS. The reason for the cross was so you and I could be free from sin, forgiven and heaven bound for eternal life. Asking yourself daily, ‘What would Jesus do?’, will keep you on the narrow road, which by the way is only one man wide. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 I believe that if we can follow the simple rule WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Then and only then, will our lights shine. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” p By Barbara Payne intercessor, worship leader, retired minister and Divorce Care counsellor October - December 2016 SHARE|MAGAZINE | 17