In John 21, Jesus delivers some difficult news about Peter’s future. In response…
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:20-22)
The circumstances are most certainly different, but the principle remains the same.
- Lord, some people have more talent than I do. “What is that to you? You follow me!”
- Lord, I had a reason to strike back; look at how she treated me. “What is that to you? You follow me!”
- Lord, that family has more stuff than we do. “What is that to you? You follow me!”
- Lord, I don’t have the education he does. “What is that to you? You follow me!”
There is only one you. You’re not someone else. You can’t be. Others have different experiences, advantages, and challenges. But the principle remains the same: “What is that to you? You follow me!”
No one can follow Jesus for you. If you follow him, it’s because you’ve made the choice to follow. And once that choice has been made, it doesn’t really matter what other people have or do or say. “What is that to me? I’m following Jesus!”
Whomever we are, wherever we are, let’s make that decision to follow him today.