Scripture:

“’I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.’ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, ‘Follow me.’

 

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, ‘Lord, who will betray you?’ Peter asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’

 

Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.’ So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you’?” John 21:18-23 (NLT)
Perspective:

Peter just had a conversation with Jesus who asked him three times if he loved him. Peter affirmed his love for Jesus three times, which would have been a reminder of when he denied Jesus days before. However, when Jesus was telling Peter about the journey ahead, Peter started looking around. He saw John, and immediately wanted to know what would happen to John. Was John going to get off with an easier road? What path would John take? Jesus looked at Peter and told him to follow him no matter what anyone else was doing. Peter would go on to be a pillar in the church, and many would would come to know Christ through him. There would have been a missing piece if Peter had refused to do what God had called him to do because he was worried about John. God had his own plans for John. While they were complimentary in their purpose of telling others about Christ, the experience of theses two men were different. Both had to choose to follow God in obedience no matter where He would lead them.

 

Jesus’ response to Peter is the same to us: follow me. It doesn’t matter what other people are doing. God has not called you to live their story. We can over focus on what other people are doing, and start wanting to trade places. It may seem that they have it all. We see our friend sitting a couple of rows over in church, and we may ask the same question, “Lord, what about him?”. Yet, no matter what God has called your friend to do, it doesn’t change what God has called you to do. It might not make sense or even seem unfair, but God has called you to follow Him wherever He may lead you. It’s the “wherever” part that we want to negotiate, because we only see part of our story as we live it. We have to come to the place of believing and trusting God without knowing all the destinations. In placing the “wherever” part at Jesus’ feet, we find joy through our obedience wherever it may lead us. It’s here in following Jesus that we embark on the greatest adventure of our lives, not when we try to live someone else’s story. Follow Him.

 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

[separator_small separator_width=” thickness=” up=” down=”]

About Hona Amer

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

[separator_small separator_width=” thickness=” up=” down=”]