Thread by @GPrater85015

#GeraldsDevotional
Equality for Believers – Comparing Ourselves

This is the theme that the LORD placed on my heart early this morning. Even as strong believers, we have a tendency to compare ourselves with others (both with believers and non-believers). It’s a lingering part of our fallen nature and it is a true blessing when we understand

this tendency is there because it helps us to live and to pray in very powerful ways.

To illustrate this, He pointed me to this intimate scene that takes place at the end of the Gospel of John. It is the third time that John records the resurrected Jesus showing Himself to

several of His disciples. Right before this scene (at the beginning of John 21), Peter had just boldly proclaimed to his friends the other disciples “Let’s go fishing!!” To summarize, they got into the boat and went out fishing all night, catching nothing. The next morning the

resurrected Jesus appeared on the shore (they did not recognize Him at first), told them where to find fish, and waited there where He had prepared breakfast for them.

When Peter found out from John that it was the LORD who had called from the shore, out of excitement he

immediately jumped into the water and swam to the shore followed by the others in the boat with the catch. After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loved Him (you know this scene).

This is a poetic picture of how Jesus is reminding Peter of how He had told him the night

before He was crucified how Peter (who said that he would die for Jesus) would deny 3 times ever even knowing Him before the following morning. In poetic fashion, here Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him, and then 3 times tells Peter to “follow Him.”

Jesus always knew that

Peter would struggle with this. Yet He chose him anyway. In today’s verses, Jesus next reassures Peter by telling him how he was going to indeed follow in His steps, giving his life at the hands of others to glorify God even in his death. Peter’s response is interesting and a

lesson for us all. After he had just emphatically stated 3 times how much he loved Jesus, after he was told how he would glorify God in his death (a true honor indeed), Peter turned and looked at the disciple Jesus loved (comparing himself to John) and asked “What about him?”

Jesus’ response to Peter in essence was “Don’t be concerned about him and what he does. YOUR main concern should be to ‘follow me’.”

The message in this for me is that we all can become obsessed in our journeys with comparing ourselves with others (seeking what we perceive to be

equality). This is a form of projection where we focus on the deeds or problems of others and overlook the problems and flaws that we have ourselves. As Jesus illustrates here to Peter (the leader of the disciples), the most important focus of our daily efforts and prayers should

be to “follow Him.” Notice how in all of chapter 21, Jesus says these 2 words to Peter at least 5 times. In all truth, we can only do this by asking Him to help us.

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went

wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

20 Peter turned

around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?

As for you, follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” - John 21:18-23
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