“For I have given you an example that you should do just as I have done to you.”—John 13:15 ESV

WWJD…………. I want to see a resurgence, bring it back…. what’s wrong with asking WWJD all day every day, for every situation? I mean seriously how many mistakes might it stop us from making? How much nicer would we be to one another? How much more joy and peace would we put out into the world if we would take a moment, hit the pause button and think about how Jesus would act or respond in any situation?

A few days ago, I heard a couple of guys on a Christian radio station talking about the What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) bracelets, those rubber wrist bands, everyone wore back in the late 90’s. Sadly, they were making fun of themselves and others for wearing them!

I wasn’t following Christ at that time, but I do remember the wrist bands. I didn’t think they were hokey or weird and I hadn’t given my life to Christ yet! I considered them another symbol of Christ and Christianity like wearing a cross on a chain. Only not everyone who wears a cross is a Christian, I know because I wore one and sometimes a Saint Christopher before I ever gave my life to Christ. In contrast the bracelets seemed to be worn by Christian’s to express their faith publicly more than for adornment.

As I continued to listen to these guys on the radio make fun of their former selves I wondered why, why it was so bad. Yes, they looked cheap, and they were! That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Their inexpensiveness made them affordable to everyone. Everyone could show their love for Jesus with a simple rubber wrist band. People wearing them had a constant reminder to be kinder, to be more considerate of others by showing compassion, love and understanding. Just Like Jesus Did. They were a constant reminder to always do the right thing, say the right thing, act the right way.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” Romans‬ ‭12:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I like to imagine every time they looked at their wrists they were reminded to be more like Jesus. Also, they were easily identifiable to other Christians. In my mind when they saw someone else wearing one, they would hold up their wrist silently saying, hey look I have one too! In a Christian’s Unite, Power to Christ, way. I can see how it would help the wearer feel part of something special, a movement of Christ.

Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as his beloved sons and daughters and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 TPT

Wearing those wristbands also served as a reminder of who lives in you and whose you are.

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”—1 John 2:6 NIV

Isn’t it wonderful how something as uncomplicated as a rubber wristband can serve as a reminder of the simplicity of the way Jesus lived and how we are all called to live as simply ourselves? Full of the love of our Heavenly Father looking for things in common rather than flaws or differences.

“Now, this is the goal: to live in harmony with one another and demonstrate affectionate love, sympathy, and kindness toward other believers. Let humility describe who you are as you dearly love one another.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We all need to be reminded we are one body united by Jesus Christ, united not divided. Right now, the world is so divisive even among Christian’s because our opinions of worldly events don’t line up, we are arguing amongst ourselves becoming offended and disillusioned. We are driving wedges between friendships and distancing ourselves from those whose opinions we don’t agree with. This isn’t what Jesus would do. He wouldn’t retaliate or drop friends; He would continue to love them and look for common ground. He would teach through love. We mustn’t allow personal opinions of any kind separate us from the work we have to do for Christs sake. We need to be battling poverty, hunger, discrimination and hate together. We need to put our opinions aside and strive to work together in harmony as the body of Christ and become the light that leads more people to wear the bracelet of Jesus, all the time asking ourselves; ‘What Would Jesus Do’

This is my command; Love each other John 15:17 NIV

Praying your light shines brightly in this world and that you may find common ground with your sisters and brothers in Christ. Praying you’ll remember to ask yourself WWJD. Asking God to richly bless y’all and grant you the desires of your heart. Amen.

If anyone is interested Amazon still sells those bracelets and now have several design options and different materials to choose from.

***I also learned from a very good friend, shout out and big thanks to Linda Herron, there was a book written in 1890s, by pastor Charles Sheldon from Topeka, Kansas. He turned a series of sermons, In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do, into a book.

‘What Would Jesus Do’ not only became a household phrase for members of pastor Sheldon’s church but for churches around the world too!