Follow Me: Focus (3)

"Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple Jesus loved following and said, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Jesus saith unto him, If it's my will that he lives until I return, what is that to you? follow thou me." (John 21:20-22, paraphrase mine)

After learning more about his contradictory nature, the paradox of dying to self-will, and his own death, Peter immediately fell into curiosity (at best) or envy (at worst) by asking, "but what about John?". Peter has no right to ask about God's dealings with others. If effect, Christ said, "it's none of your business, focus on your own work and follow me. Period."

It's natural to examine God's dealings with others. In our eyes, the lives of others are perceived to be better (and we're envious), or worse (and we're pride-filled) than our own. That kind of attention to others diminishes focus in following Christ. The point of Christ is: follow me. "Examine" your own work, and "rejoice in that alone", for "each one shall bear his own burden" (Galatians 6:5-6).

Following Christ may be, or appear to be more or less difficult; publicly visible; socially damaging; or debilitating in consequences. In God's plan and in His eyes though, no assignment is more or less important to the whole plan in which we have been Graciously called as saved rather than damned.

I've often envied others because I perceive that's God's assignments to them are less difficult than mine in following Christ. "Why me?" and "what about them?" still regularly resurface. I'm certain though, that thoughts of others should be to demonstrate love and care while thoughts of myself, to following. Thanks be to God, focus on Christ will progressively improve. SDG