The WWJD bracelets have become well known even outside Christian circles in recent years. WWJD stands for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’. It serves as a visual reminder to Christians to think about their response to everyday situations. (My wife Jane wants me to wear one meaning ‘What Would Jane Do?’ – she’s convinced this would improve my life 🙂 ) In fact I had the silicone version and only wore it for a few days (anyone else find having a rubber band around your wrist annoyingly itchy?)

I think asking what Jesus would do is great. But it can suggest that Jesus is absent, long-gone, and we are trying to make decisions in his place. For me, it also contains a nugget of guilt – what ought you do right now to live up to what Jesus would have done? That’s a tall order indeed, and one liable to make me feel I am not measuring up.

Recently I have been rephrasing the bracelet: What WILL Jesus Do? This seems a much better way of looking at things. Jesus is not absent. Nor is he waiting to see if, through our own efforts, we can live up to his enormous expectations. Instead, he is in us, working through us by the same Holy Spirit that raised him from the dead (Romans 8:11). We are co-workers with him, not second-rate replacements for him. I have found this new way of thinking profoundly liberating. I might even dig that old bracelet out of the cupboard…