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In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon
How much are you willing to change to answer the question in your life,
" What Would Jesus Do?"
In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon
Reading Level: Middle School, Teen & Young Adult, Adult Fiction for In His Steps
3rd - 6th grade for the young reader library edition of In His Steps
In His Steps written by Charles Sheldon. He self-published as a serial in 1896.
Reverend Henry Maxwell is the title character of this book. His life is turned upside down when a man (tramp) gives a monologue at the end of a church service and then later dies in the parsonage. The Reverend Maxwell begins to search his own heart concerning the First Church of Raymond.
1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps:”
The phrase 'What Would Jesus Do?' is then asked of the entire congregation.
A singer, an heiress, and newspaper editor, and train engineer and many others are affected by the thought-provoking question: 'What Would Jesus Do?'
Reverend Maxwell asks for a small group to join him in his office to take up a challenge. To begin to ask that very question: What Would Jesus Do? in any and every situation. Very difficult decisions are made these prominent people in the town of Raymond. The Lord begins to bless their lives no matter the sacrifices that they are making. Some are huge sacrifices, and some are little sacrifices. All in all, the influence and decisions that they are making are affecting the lives of others in the town. People start getting saved and the First Church of
Raymond transforms over the course of time.
The Reverend Maxwell is then asked to take his message of What Would Jesus Do? to other places. He does, but it seemingly does not have the lasting ramifications that took place in Raymond. It is a condition of the heart.
How much is someone willing to sacrifice when they ask What Would Jesus Do?
Would Jesus sing these kinds of songs? Would Jesus spend His fortune on frivolous and vain things? Would Jesus put advertisements in His newspaper that would be detrimental to someone’s health: tobacco and alcohol? Would Jesus preach and teach messages that were crowd pleasing, but not God pleasing? All of these questions are posed and answered along with many more.
It is an easy but hard read. I found it to be a very convicting book. Most of the things that we do
in life, would Jesus do them and if He did, how would He do them? Would He do them
differently?
It is a classic Christian novel, and I recommend all Christians read it for the message that it carries.
What would Jesus Do?
Some things To Consider: The topics of embezzlement, immorality, addictions, and other things are addressed in this book, but not graphically. It portrays the harshness and reality of life and that we need as Christians to change our way of thinking.
At Book-end: It is a book that at the end you are wondering, have I really surrendered my whole life to Christ?Am I really asking the question in every situation: What Would Jesus Do? If not, why not?