As for You, Follow Me.

A Bible story that has been sticking out to me lately is a conversation Jesus has with Peter after His resurrection. In John 21, He is telling Peter to tend His sheep, and describing what will happen to Peter—a not so peaceful death.

Peter sees John, and asks Jesus “Lord, what about him?” (verse 21).

Jesus replied: “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” (verse 22).

Jesus was not interested in talking to Peter about John. He was talking to Peter about Peter, pulling Him back into focus. For Peter’s life, it didn’t matter what John was going to do. It didn’t matter how John would die. What mattered was that Peter kept His eyes on Jesus.

Whenever I feel jealousy or comparison creeping into my mind, I imagine Jesus saying this to me, His voice gentle and warm, “What is it to you?”

In our personal walk with the Lord, we shouldn’t be looking over our shoulder, checking where everyone else is. Why would we want to be looking over at someone else to check their progress when we could have our eyes locked on Jesus? Why would we be jealous of someone else’s path when the Creator of the universe has already written our story?

When we stand before Jesus, He is not going to say “hey, wasn’t it super cool what I did in that other person’s life?” No, His eyes will be fixed upon us. His eyes will be fixed upon you.

In what area of your life are you focused on other people’s lives?

I want you to imagine it for a moment. Jesus standing before you, gently turning you back to Him. “What is it to you? As for you, follow me.”

How will you obey that command today?

Always,

Emily