As for you… Follow me!
John 21:22: Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”
I love these words from Christ to Peter, reported by John… I smile when I think of these two early leaders of the church. Two apostles, great servants of God, but so human, almost childish in the way they were always fighting for Jesus’ love. Both of them had the desire to be the first in their master’s heart, and John made sure, by writing this down into his gospel, that the world would know he won the battle… What a funny curveball!
Aren’t we at times, exactly like them?
Jesus resolved the issue with a few words… but what a statement: “What is that to you?” Or in other words: “Why do you care?”
We are so often stuck in that position. We know we aren’t supposed to look at someone else’s blessings with envy, but nevertheless, we keep comparing ourselves secretly to what others are enjoying, while looking at our limitations, and struggles.
Comparison is, most of the time, disadvantageous. “ I could have done better than them if only I had the chance…” It’s a biased way to walk with Christ, as if He could favor someone and not be absolutely just, in the way He conducts all of our lives.
Comparison never gives us a true picture of the other side’s situation. It never includes their difficult seasons, the times when they said yes to a place where no one wanted to go. Their walk in the valley of death and tears, their secret struggles no one knows about… we somehow chose to look only to what we wish we had or what creates jealousy in our heart.
Why? Does their success create an image we don’t like in ourselves? Something, we should have done and did not, or never should have done and did anyway? In other words, something we still have a tough time to forgive ourselves for? Or maybe it’s an injustice we believe we suffered, that we haven’t dealt with yet with God? Maybe this represents something you are still mad at God for and are still refusing to talk to Him about?
Whatever it is, jealousy is the thought that God did not answer my dreams and prayers the way I thought He should have, and believing that instead, God blessed others who might be less deserving in my eyes… such thinking sometimes borders sin.
This real spiritual struggle is very well described by Asaph in the Psalm 73: 2-5:
“For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else”.
(…) 13-14:
“Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain”.
Until Asaph, entered God’s presence (v 17), and finally understood what was going on in his heart:
“Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever”.
I know that the psalmist spoke about non-believers, but let’s be honest, it also applies to the way we sometimes look at each other in ministry. Envying others “successes” while disregarding the beautiful blessings we have already received from His hand.
Jesus, after asking Peter a question about his own state of heart, immediately gives him the answer he needs to be victorious, the key for his own successful life of service:
“As for you, follow me”
Jesus’ love language is obedience. He obeyed His father’s will His whole life and set a powerful example for us in Luke 22:42: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
In the same way, this is what He expects of each of us.
It doesn’t matter what others do or don’t, receive or give. We just need to stop envying others because by doing so, we are disregarding our own calling and blessings!
You are a unique creation. No one but you has been called to live your life and you alone will be accountable to the Father for it!
There never was, nor will there ever be another you in God’s creation!
Your path is unique and you received all the gifts you need to walk successfully in Christ’s eyes. What a joy, what an exciting reality!
Jesus told Peter “You, follow me” . Peter obeyed Jesus’ words and did not become less, nor more than John! They both successfully accomplished the part of the task their master gave them.
Jesus is repeating to you today those exact same words!
Just trust Him, trust the fact that He has never lied to you, nor betrayed you. He’s never played with your life. And when nothing makes sense anymore, then just look to Him on the cross and know that His love led him there, to pay the full price of sin for you!
Now from today on, choose to bless those who seem more successful today, they serve the same God and Kingdom anyway. You belong to the same army!
Choose to follow Him and see the joy, peace and satisfaction that will fill your heart through the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 4:23:
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”.
Eric Dufour
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