1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

This statement is both completely simple and totally hard-hitting. Properly considered, it answers every question about human behavior. A few years ago there was a big fad among Christians of wearing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets and the like. The original thought behind it was indeed this verse, and especially a book that was written expanding the idea, but the problem was that it was indeed a fad, “the thing to do,” rather than a genuine commitment to walk as Jesus walked. I don’t think Jesus wore a bracelet to remind Him to listen to the Father! John isn’t talking about externals here, but about heart attitude. Jesus is the only person to perfectly obey what He Himself identified as the first and second commandments, to love God with all you are and love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) John has just been talking about the impossibility of being a genuine Christian without obedience to Christ, and after this he goes on to say that it’s impossible to be a genuine Christian while hating your brother. These are not casual statements! Abiding in Christ is a matter of total commitment, the farthest thing from “the fad of the day.”

This puts me under the microscope just as much as it does anyone else, and like anyone else, I can’t say that I measure up fully. That’s why I’ve got to depend on God’s grace! However, my appropriation of God’s grace must not be presumptive, but rather in all humility and gratitude. I am indeed to fix my eyes on Jesus, as it says in Hebrews 12:2, both as my goal and as my model, and I am to be honest in evaluating my own attitude and behavior as to how they measure up. That should keep me humble! I am to extend to others the grace and mercy that have been shown to me, letting God’s love flow through me to them. My task is never to generate that love, because I can’t, but to remove anything that hinders the flow of that love through me. I must not think that love is weak, “spoiling” people rather than applying appropriate training and discipline. I must love people enough to risk their not liking me, just as Jesus did.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I wasn’t expecting it! Thank You for Your grace, that is indeed greater than all my sin, just as we sing. Show me today and each day what it is to walk as Jesus did, in every detail of my life, so that in full obedience I may be Your instrument for accomplishing Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!