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WWJD?
Fashion Trend or
Conscience Shaper? (A summary of this month's Youth Update) Questions about what to do and how to act come your way hour by hour. WWJD? may be the trendy question of the day, but it's a real, live consideration as well. What would Jesus do? Did Jesus have to have decisions about TV, tunes, video games, drugs, cigarettes, curfews and dress codes? No. So how can Jesus give you any clues about how you are to respond to these—and other— challenges? Four stories from the Good Book, the Bible, offer some guidance as to just what Jesus would do in tough situations. 1. Ties That Bind. Luke 2:41-52 Luke's story from Jesus' youth gives you clues about the way Jesus valued family, spent time with family and was obedient within his family. 2. Afraid of Heights? Matthew 4:1-11 Matthew's story about Jesus facing temptation gives you clues about facing those times when you don't want to do the right thing. Jesus knew the Bible (the Old Testament). Getting acquainted with the Scriptures gives you guidance to fall back on in times of temptation. When Jesus was tempted, he put himself in the care of God's angels (God's messengers). You have angels (messengers of God) in your life. You need to identify them and allow them to assist you in doing what Jesus did.
3. See, Judge, Act. Mark 12: 28-31 Mark's story describes Jesus teaching the Great Commandment of Love. See, Judge, Act is one way to determine how to be loving, to take the words of Jesus and apply them in your life. See means you observe. Judge means you pay attention to the words and will of Jesus and his Father. This requires you to know the Ten Commandments. Act means that, after seeing and judging, you act in a way that respects and reflects the Ten Commandments and the Great Commandment. In other words, these are tools for critical thinking. 4. Do the Right Thing. John 13:1-15 John's story describes Jesus washing the feet of his followers after celebrating a very important meal with them. He did this to give not only his apostles but also all of us an example to follow. It is a challenge to act as Jesus acted, to be of service to others. What are the benefits of living with this question: WWJD? You will be happy—not necessarily all the time, but more often than otherwise. Each day you will discover more of how God calls you to makes a positive difference in the lives of others. Is all this artificial? Is WWJD? just a fad? Hope not. It can be an invitation to know the Jesus of the Gospels so well that you will know what Jesus did—and what he would do in your situation! What will you do? Teenagers from Mary, Help of Christians Parish in Fairborn, Ohio, read the entire text of this Youth Update and posed these questions. If you would like to preview a future edition in Youth Update's private online chat room, contact CarolAnn@franciscanmedia.org.
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