Would Jesus? Then, go for it!

When I read this passage, my mind goes back to the Looney Toons cartoons I used to watch as a kid. You know, the ones where the character (Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, or whomever) had a choice to make, and all of a sudden it happened! Out of thin air, they appeared - both in the likeness of that character, but one as a angel and the other as a devil, each doing its best to persuade the character into making what it saw as the "best" choice.

How often does this happen to us? Happens to me all the time. And, evidently, John was no stranger to it either. Here, John addresses this very thing (only without the benefit of knowing Elmer Fudd).

Here's what he's saying about these decisions we have to make:

"If our hearts condemn us..." this is the little devil on your shoulder that looks just like you, only redder and with horns, a tail, and probably a pitchfork. This is the one pointing you the opposite way of the direction you should go on this decision.

So... you hear of someone who has a need:

Something has come up and a single mother needs someone to watch her kids while she works late. And, this need gets your attention (admit it, sometimes God makes some things stand out more than others - this is one of those things). If you're like me, the little devil pops up (or my heart starts condemning me) right away telling me all of the reasons why I can't meet this need. "Oh, you've worked so hard all day, you need some downtime, you deserve it..." "Think about all you can get done at home tonight..." "Wouldn't it be nice to just take the family out for dinner, it's been so long since you've all had a nice meal out together..."

But all the while, there's that little angel on the other shoulder, you know the one that looks like you looking like Jesus. This shining example of who you were created in Christ to be is constantly there, in fact it was him/her who made you pay attention to this need in the first place. That alone should be enough to get you to follow through and meet the need. I say "should be", but it isn't. Is it? No. That is why the little voice of You-as-Jesus keeps whispering to you "this is what Jesus would do" and sometimes this whisper is hard to hear over the yelling of the pointy-tailed you.

John gets it. God gets it - which is why he's telling John to write this to you and me. God is telling us that he is greater than that darker voice within us - that voice that seeks only Self and Pleasure (these are two gods that many of us worship constantly, but that's a different message). God is greater and he does not condemn us for doing what is right.

Let's say that again: God is greater than Self and Pleasure. God does not condemn us for doing what is right. Said a different way: You'll never go wrong doing the right thing. (I always hear that in my mother's voice.) Self and Pleasure may be very mad, but who are they anyway? They are just that red-faced, pointy-tailed YOU that has an endless list of wants and desires.

So, here's the question to help you decide the battles between the angels and devils that wage war in your head from opposing shoulders: Would Jesus?

Would Jesus baby sit for that single mother [even though He's worked hard all day/week/month]?

Would Jesus start a small group in your neighborhood [even if He didn't think anyone would come]?

Would Jesus give money and/or possessions to help others in need [even if He was saving for a new {insert toy here}]?

If we can answer yes, then, as John tells us, we need "to love one another as he commanded us." And how did he command us? He commanded us to love one another as we love ourselves.

Would Jesus? He would? Then you should too. Go for it!

Created 9 months ago