It must be disconcerting to hear about how you’re going to die. And so after Jesus told Peter exactly how he was going to die, there probably was an awkward silence.
Peter then suddenly realized that John was walking not far behind them, and so he said, “What about him Lord? Is he going to die for you too?”
But Jesus replied,
If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. (John 21:22)
So often, as we are serving the Lord, we compare ourselves to others.
Sometimes we are jealous of the gifts and talents they have. Other times, we look down on others because our gifts and talents are “better” than theirs.
Sometimes as with Peter, God calls us to do something, and we ask, “Why me? Why don’t you send that guy or that woman instead?”
But the answer Jesus gave Peter is the same that he gives to us. “Don’t worry about them. I’ll take care of them. You follow me. Don’t focus your eyes on others and compare yourself to them. Keep your eyes on me and you do the things I tell you.”
Honestly, that can be hard to do. Our eyes are so quick to drift to others. Our hearts are so quick to compare ourselves to others. That’s something that I struggle with even now.
But if we are to bear fruit as God desires, then we need to get our eyes off of others serving God and put them solely on Jesus.
How about you? Where are your eyes? On yourself? On others? Or on Jesus?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 