As you might remember, there was a fad a few years back with bracelets imprinted with WWJD– What Would Jesus Do? It seemed like just about everyone who called themselves a Christian had at least one (I had two!) It became another fashion accesory. In some ways, it was only that. I don’t mean to say that nothing good came out of it. I’m sure some did.

I now think that’s the wrong question to ask. It’s not “What would Jesus do?” but “What did Jesus do?”. Even better than that, “What does Jesus want to do through me?” I think that Jesus is calling us to reach out to the hopeless and hurting and broken and lonely and show them the love He showed us. He wants us as we go, wherever we go, to make disciples of all the people groups in every nation.

The criteria that Jesus uses to separate the sheep from the goats is how they treated Him in the guise of the poor and needy, the orphan and the widow. The least of these.

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:37-40).

What we did or did not do for the least of these is what we did or did not do to Jesus. That’s a sobering thought. I know I’m probably not prepared to face that assessment. I do really well for people who are just like me, who like me back. But loving the unloveable? Giving to those who can’t give back? Not so good.

The question of the night probably won’t fit on a braclet, but it’s this: : “In light of all that Jesus has done for you, what are you prepared to do for Him?” Anything less that all than I can do, all that I have, and all that I am is not enough.

I like this quote from former President Jimmy Carter. “My faith demands– this is not optional– my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

As always, I believe. Help my unbelief.