I've heard that question asked throughout my life. Over and over again.
When I first heard this question as a young boy, it made me want to be a "good boy". It made me want to listen to my mother and grandparents. It challenged me to try to do my best to do better.... for Jesus.
What I didn't realize at the time was this question was warping my perception of the Gospel.
It doesn't matter the topic of discussion or the challenges we face in this life. Everyone is trying to "drive a narrative". From politics to religion. From philosophy to what cars we drive. Everyone is trying to gain an advantage in the conversation. If someone can get you to focus on their perspective, they usually won the battle from the beginning.
If you're a student of the Scriptures, you often notice that Jesus often ignored questions being put to Him. His response was always timely and cut to the core of any subject. No wasted words. No "fluff". No pretense. No pandering. No posturing.
The question "What have you done for Jesus?" is not asked anywhere in the Scriptures. Not once. No sermon can ever reference such words from our Savior. There is a reason for this.
The Gospel isn't about what you've done. Its about what Jesus has done for you.
That IS the narrative.
IF we could please talk about what Jesus has done for humanity, I believe we can forget about what you think you've done for Him!
true...... nowhere in scripture does anyone ask someone else what they did for Jesus..... and i take that to mean that it;s not really anyones else business what we do for Christ..... and it is not our business to know what they might have done for Him either.......
but that doesn;t mean it;s not right or even acceptable to do something for others in the name of Christ.... in fact in mark 9;41 Jesus tells us..... "for whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward". ..... and the in many other places in scripture that same concept is repeated speaking of giving children a drink of water in the name of Christ.... ...it might not be a command to go around giving people water in the name of Christ... but according to this at least we know it;s not wrong....
but then in john 21;15 to 17 it appears Jesus is actually telling one of his disciples to do something for Him, Himself.... when he tells simon peter to "feed my sheep"
john 21;15 to 17 ........ so when they had dined, Jesus saith to simon peter, simon, son of jonas, lovest thou me more than these? he saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. ....... .... ....He saith to him again the second time, simon, son of jonas, lovest thou me? he saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep............. ..... ..He saith unto him the third time, simon, son of jonas, lovest thou me? peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? and he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep.
could that be one reason why people get the idea they should be asking others what they have done for Jesus?..... ..i don;t know.... .. but i do know that whenever i hear someone telling someone else what they should do for Christ...... there always seems to be some benefit in it for themselves as well...... or some benefit to their church which they will no doubt take some credit for... .... it;s like they are saying... ..... "do this for Jesus"....... while thinking to themselves... "and it won;t do me any harm either"..... .
but yes.... what Jesus has done for us is what we should always be mindful of..... and our thoughts on that matter become known when we love Him and obey His commands.....
(08-17-2019, 06:27 PM)aleshanee Wrote: [ -> ]true...... nowhere in scripture does anyone ask someone else what they did for Jesus..... and i take that to mean that it;s not really anyones else business what we do for Christ..... and it is not our business to know what they might have done for Him either.......
but that doesn;t mean it;s not right or even acceptable to do something for others in the name of Christ.... in fact in mark 9;41 Jesus tells us..... "for whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward". ..... and the in many other places in scripture that same concept is repeated speaking of giving children a drink of water in the name of Christ.... ...it might not be a command to go around giving people water in the name of Christ... but according to this at least we know it;s not wrong....
but then in john 21;15 to 17 it appears Jesus is actually telling one of his disciples to do something for Him, Himself.... when he tells simon peter to "feed my sheep"
john 21;15 to 17 ........ so when they had dined, Jesus saith to simon peter, simon, son of jonas, lovest thou me more than these? he saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. ....... .... ....He saith to him again the second time, simon, son of jonas, lovest thou me? he saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep............. ..... ..He saith unto him the third time, simon, son of jonas, lovest thou me? peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? and he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep.
could that be one reason why people get the idea they should be asking others what they have done for Jesus?..... ..i don;t know.... .. but i do know that whenever i hear someone telling someone else what they should do for Christ...... there always seems to be some benefit in it for them as well...... or some benefit to their church which they will no doubt take some credit for... .... it;s like they are saying... ..... "do this for Jesus"....... while thinking to themselves... "and it won;t do me any harm either"..... .
but yes.... what Jesus has done for us is what we should always be mindful of..... and our thoughts on that matter become known when we love Him and obey His commands.....
I agree completely with what you've said above.
I think I did a poor job at expressing what I was trying to get across.
I believe the question of "what you done for Jesus" creates a merit based approach to addressing the demands of the Gospel. It is the ages old problem with perspective that sinful man has toward God.
God doesn't ask men to earn their way. God, in Jesus Christ has paid the way. Yes. We are to walk worthy of the price paid for us, but we never earn anything.
Question such as "what have done for Jesus" only cloud that message.
It is so very important that mankind see themselves for what they are. A people that can not help themselves apart from a desperate cry for help from Another. Jesus Christ.
It is my experience, that when people really see the Gospel for what it is......
They'll see this issue that'll see man's inabilities to sincerely deal with the Gospel message.