365 WWJD: Daily Answers to What Would Jesus Do?

265 Pages·1998·0.62 MB·English

by  Nick Harrison

This book is dedicated to the generation
of Christians who, through their honest
asking of “What Would Jesus Do?”
have the potential to change our world.
And to a great mom,
Patricia Ann Harrison

CONTENTS
E-Book Extra: Excerpts from Charles M. Sheldon's In His 234
Steps (1896)
Dedication ii
Introduction 1
JANUARY 3
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
FEBRUARY 21
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
MARCH 39
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
APRIL 58
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
MAY 75
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
JUNE 93
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
JULY 111
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
AUGUST 128
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
iv
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
SEPTEMBER 145
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
OCTOBER 163
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
NOVEMBER 179
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
DECEMBER 195
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Afterword 212
Author Index 213
Permissions 228
Acknowledgements 233
About the Author 255
Also by Nick Harrison 256
Credits 257
Cover
Copyright 258
About the Publisher 259
v
INTRODUCTION
A LITTLE MORE than a century ago, in 1896, Charles Sheldon, a Congreg-
ationalist minister, wrote a series of Sunday school lessons that became
a book called In His Steps. Each chapter, as it was written, was read to
the youth in Reverend Sheldon’s Central Congregational Church in
Topeka, Kansas. Because of the author’s oversight in securing a copy-
right, the book was quickly reprinted by sixteen different American
publishers and fifty international publishers. Since then, the book has
never been out of print and for the first half of the twentieth century it
was the second best-selling book of all time, trailing only the Bible.
In His Steps tackled the challenging question of what would happen
if the members of a church who were living comfortable, secure lives
were to “pledge themselves, earnestly and honestly for an entire year,
not to do anything without first asking the question, ‘What Would Jesus
Do?’” This was the challenge put to the members of the fictional First
Church of Raymond by their pastor, Reverend Henry Maxwell. The
situations these ordinary people faced as a result of this pledge have
fascinated more than six million readers since the book was first pub-
lished.
Now, a century later, the four simple words of that all-important
question have been taken up again as the WWJD? phenomenon has
swept the Christian church on the eve of the third millennium. Young
and old are daily reminded to ask “What Would Jesus Do?” through
the appearance of those four letters, WWJD?, on T-shirts, posters,
bracelets, bumper stickers, and even shoelaces.
Just as the fictional town of Raymond was profoundly affected by
the year-long pledge taken by the members of the First Church, so too
can our communities, states, and nation be changed by individual
Christians who try to live out simply, daily, the WWJD? life in their
everyday affairs.
For the next year, I invite you to take this same challenging pledge—a
pledge that the Apostle John says is a surefire test of our Christian faith:
INTRODUCTION / 1
“This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him
must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:5-6).
In organizing a book of devotions that summons readers to ask “What
Would Jesus Do?” I’ve chosen some excellent readings and quotes from
men and women who are remembered today because of their willing-
ness to do what Jesus would do. After a brief excerpt from the writing
of these mentors, I offer a brief WWJD? Reflection as a practical consid-
eration of the day’s reading.
One year from now may our lives be richer for having taken the time
to learn the lessons gained by answering “What Would Jesus Do?”
—Nick Harrison
2 / 365 WWJD?
JANUARY
JANUARY 1
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press
on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:13-14
It is never wise to live in the past. There are, indeed, some uses of our past
which are helpful, which bring blessing. We should remember our past
lost condition to keep us humble and faithful. We should remember past
mercies, that we may have confidence in new needs or trials in the future.
We should remember past comforts, that there may be stars in our sky
when night comes again. But while there are these true uses of memory,
we should guard against living in the past. We should draw our life’s in-
spirations not from memory, but from hope; not from what is gone, but
from what is yet to come. Forgetting the things which are behind, we should
reach forward unto those things which are before.—J. R. Miller
WWJD? REFLECTION Every one of us made mistakes last year. Every one of
us, if we could, would recant on words spoken, deeds done, deeds left undone, de-
cisions made. We are at the dawn of a new year. Ahead there may be similar pitfalls,
along with some wonderful unexpected joys—all in the measure in which God
apportions them to us. Today is the perfect day to discard the mistakes and confess
the sins of the past year with the realization that a confessed sin is a forgiven and
forgotten sin in the eyes of God. Let go of all the failures of the past year. Set your
eyes on the months ahead with anticipation. Do as Jesus did when He “steadfastly
set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51, KJV)—no looking back.
Treasure last year’s victories. Forgive last year’s hurts. Forget last year’s
disappointments.
“Behold, I make all things new.”—Revelation 21:5, KJV
JANUARY / 3
JANUARY 2
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct,
rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.—2
Timothy 4:2
Preach the gospel every day. If necessary, use words.—Francis of Assisi
WWJD? REFLECTION Jesus looked for ways to preach the good news to those
in His path—Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the rich young ruler. Today, if
you watch with Jesus’ eyes, there will be an opportunity to preach the gospel to
someone. Maybe with words, maybe with deeds of kindness. Maybe with both.
JANUARY 3
He was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb
to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he
openeth not his mouth.—Isaiah 53:7, KJV
Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary
sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces—sanctified afflictions
are spiritual promotions.—Matthew Henry
The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.
—Charles Haddon Spurgeon
WWJD? REFLECTION Jesus Christ was afflicted, yet He “opened not his mouth.”
To live a life as a human being means to know affliction—often many afflictions.
When we allow God to make good soldiers out of us through affliction, we cooperate
with His eternal purpose for us. Far too often, because it is a hidden purpose and
we can’t see the good in it, we recoil from the afflictions of God. Yet if we could
see perfectly, wouldn’t we, as Jesus did, receive what the Father has for us without
complaining? Today, don’t allow any affliction that assaults you to rob you of the
joy that accompanies God’s afflictions. In passing through the fire, you’ll not be
burned, but purified.
4 / 365 WWJD?