"This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays you?"
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
John 21:19-22 (NKJV)
Imagine being at your place of employment and having your boss give you some work to do. Then, instead of just going to do the work you were given, you start questioning your boss about the work that other people have been assigned to. Or imagine someone on a sports team not playing their position but constantly going over to other players to check on what they are doing. In either situation there will be a problem because someone is overly concerned about what another person is doing and they are ignoring their own work.
A problem that often happens is our comparing what we are doing and what we have to what other people are doing and what they have. Too often people get very interested in what someone else is doing, rather than just paying attention to what they should be doing. The more a person gets involved in the lives and work of other people, the less they are focusing on their own life and work. The result of this can be that both people are doing less than they should be doing, and this will lead to problems.
In John 21, Jesus talks to Peter, telling Peter to follow Him. But rather than just doing what Jesus told him to do, Peter asks about what John should do. What Jesus told Peter should have been enough. But like many people today, instead of just doing what Jesus said, Peter wondered about what someone else would be doing. We need to focus on the plan and purpose God has for us, what God has spoken to us through His Word and by the direction of the Holy Spirit, and do that. The question is not about what God has said or done with others, but what did God say to YOU?
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays you?"
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
John 21:19-22 (NKJV)
Imagine being at your place of employment and having your boss give you some work to do. Then, instead of just going to do the work you were given, you start questioning your boss about the work that other people have been assigned to. Or imagine someone on a sports team not playing their position but constantly going over to other players to check on what they are doing. In either situation there will be a problem because someone is overly concerned about what another person is doing and they are ignoring their own work.
A problem that often happens is our comparing what we are doing and what we have to what other people are doing and what they have. Too often people get very interested in what someone else is doing, rather than just paying attention to what they should be doing. The more a person gets involved in the lives and work of other people, the less they are focusing on their own life and work. The result of this can be that both people are doing less than they should be doing, and this will lead to problems.
In John 21, Jesus talks to Peter, telling Peter to follow Him. But rather than just doing what Jesus told him to do, Peter asks about what John should do. What Jesus told Peter should have been enough. But like many people today, instead of just doing what Jesus said, Peter wondered about what someone else would be doing. We need to focus on the plan and purpose God has for us, what God has spoken to us through His Word and by the direction of the Holy Spirit, and do that. The question is not about what God has said or done with others, but what did God say to YOU?
