It Takes WWJT to WWJD

A couple of years ago, my wife and I were thinking about making some changes to our kitchen—relocating a few of the cabinets, replacing some drawer fronts, creating more counter space, and painting.

Things were going well, but when we "differed" on the layout of one of the corners, I found myself thinking, "What would Jesus do?" I was sure He'd side with me since we'd both been carpenters, but as my mind quickly scrolled through the Gospels, I couldn't think of a single example of Jesus working with His wife to determine the best layout for a kitchen. I was stuck.

While imitating the ways of Jesus is a recurring theme in the New Testament, the specifics are often unclear. The phrase "What Would Jesus Do" first appeared in the best-selling book 'In His Steps' by Rev. Charles Sheldon in 1896. Almost a century later, a Michigan youth leader got inspired by the book and created a friendship bracelet with the acronym WWJD to encourage her students to act like Jesus. Well, it caught on! Since then, the merchandising of WWJD has expanded to include baseball caps, coffee mugs, jewelry, sweaters, t-shirts, and more. Today, it's a widely recognized phrase.

As much as I love the four Gospels, I have to admit there are few examples of Jesus doing most of the things I do on a daily basis. He was never married, never a parent, never owned a business or car or house, never voted in an election, and never made financial plans for the future. So I guess we're out of luck if we hope to find chapter and verse to know what Jesus would do.

Or are we?

Doing is a choice that is processed through the brain and leads to action. It all starts with thinking. Jesus multiplied a few loaves and fish to feed 5,000, yet on another occasion sent His disciples into town to get their own lunch. Why? What was He thinking? He came down hard on a group of religious leaders, calling them a brood of vipers, but later defended an adulterous woman and refused to condemn her. Why? What was He thinking? It was His thinking that led to different responses in similar circumstances. This means if we are to act like Jesus (WWJD), we must first learn to think like Jesus (WWJT).

Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new

person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which

is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NLT)

The Bible is our primary source for learning the thoughts and ways of God, and as His thoughts replace ours, we find ourselves stepping into a good, pleasing, and perfect way to live: just like Jesus.

So how did Jesus think? What was going on in His mind that directed His actions and responses? While the Library of Congress couldn't contain all His thoughts, let me suggest a few:

He thought grace and truth: After establishing Jesus as the creator, the Apostle John tells us Jesus is full of grace (John 1:14-18). He wasn't a scorekeeper and didn’t give people what they deserved. But His grace was always mixed with truth—a divine understanding of right and wrong that shaped His values, choices, and teaching.

He thought love: Jesus never met a person He didn't love. He saw past the marred exterior to a precious life created in His image, and that filled His thinking and directed His actions.

He thought doing good for others: He humbled Himself as a servant to promote the well-being of others (Philippians 2:3-8). Because He was secure in His identity, He could use His divine resources to serve others.  

He thought forgiveness: Jesus was about relationships and knew it was impossible for them to survive without forgiveness. But He also knew forgiveness came with a price, one the forgiver—not the transgressor—had to pay. And He did.  

He thought redemption: He lived knowing that every person in their natural state would spend eternity apart from Him, and that was more than He could bear. So seeking and saving the lost was always at the forefront of His thinking (Luke 19:10).  

He thought the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This means we can do what Jesus did, yet be very unlike Jesus. Engaging in "right" behavior without love, patience, goodness, or kindness—without grace and concern for the good of others—misses the heart of God.

• Thinking right leads to being right.

• Being right leads to doing right.

• Doing right leads to looking like Jesus.  

So, how did the kitchen turn out? Great! But I don't think we'll be remodeling the bathroom anytime soon.