Cracking Comparisons

"If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." John 21:22

God has a different call upon all of our lives and we rob ourselves of walking it it when we look around and compare ourselves to another's call.

I am convinced that many a Christian misses out on fulfilling their own designed ministry with joy because they look about, as Peter did in this chapter. I wonder if Peter was looking at John to compare the appeared "importance" of each others called ministries, or is it was the "path" he was caught up on?

Read a few verses before…

Jesus restores Peter by asking him the same trio question, "Peter, do you love Me?" Each time Peter responds, "Yes", then Jesus foretells of the "path" Peter would walk--in reference to the way he would glorify God in his death. Let us pause, this path, one with no ease or comfort; yet Jesus concludes with two simple words, "Follow Me".

Depth in simple words…Following the One you love.

Peter had just proclaimed his love for Christ, now such love beckoned him to follow, despite the path's holdings.

He was called to walk out his love, trusting that every allowance in the way of Jehovah is orchestrated in love.

Follow in love.

This seems beautiful, so why was Peter not content? I must ask further, perhaps Peter's comparison came in overlooking such love and instead of choosing faith, fear crept in due to the discomforts of the path set before him. Wondering if things would be as hard for others, like John. Would he suffer too? Would he have such a difficult "path" to follow?

How often we desire the blessing, but fear the path that leads to such blessings.

We want the gifts of God to be apart of the ministry we do for God, but unadmittedly expect these things should come without problem or hardship. We know that our God gave up all things freely, but we forget that it was through the cross. It was through suffering, discomfort, and death. Jesus was not requesting anything unreasonable to Peter. Christ had just completed His "path" to show forth His love, and Peter claimed to have such love.

Don't allow your ministry's calling to suffer or die by brutal comparisons to other people's paths. Let the death you die be for the furthermost of Christ being known through your obedience to the path He has called you to.

As C.S. Lewis' Narnian ancient truth declared, that if one dies selflessly expressing the true meaning of sacrifice the stone table would crack and even death itself would turn backward.

Even so it is for the follower of Christ. When we selflessly lay down ourselves for another, death is cracked and turned to blessing. 

Trust that each step is set in love, sacrifice according to your calling…this is the path marked out to lead others from the stone of the grave, to the cracked stone of a blessed life knowing God and leading others to Himself. 

We are individually called, together loved. Choose to magnify love, not comparisons as we lift up our Savior…for soon and very soon these discomforts will be joy unspeakable.

Justice...

"And all of Israel heard of the judgement which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice." 

1 Kings 3:28

Justice.

The world cries, "Let justice be served!" but Christ brought a very different mentality to such a concept. I believe that we have a misconstrued definition of "justice". Take a moment to define it for yourself…

We commonly think of it as when something that was wrong is punished. We more often put it upon the lines of vengeance or revenge instead of compassion and mercy.

Justice brings equality.

Godly justice is a new set of vision to see others through the cross. Justice sees from heaven's view. 

Justice sees the two prostitutes from this Biblical story and instead of seeing how pathetic their state, sees two woman who may of sold their dignity by man's view, but who were precious enough in the sight of God to be purchased back, redeemed through His Son. 

Justice sees others through Christ's love. Jesus showed justice as He sat with the Pharisees and tax collectors, the prostitutes and defiled. He did not condone their practices, but showed worth to their hearts. If you treat them as the world, how can you win them to a love unlike the world? He treated them with the dignity and worth they had lost, seeing them for who they would be not for who they were. He saw all through the forgiveness of the cross. He saw no sin as greater or less, but all equal, all perishing, all with opportunity for forgiveness and to be brought right through the cross.

Oh how sad it is that we elevate one over another, yet claim to be people who stand for justice! We turn away the "homeless at our door" with "justifiable" excuses? Are they? Or is it that we commonly see them lower than ourselves, when heaven sees us alike? 

The message of the cross proclaimed that it mattered not how you come, but how you react. 

Repentance brings cleansing, new life, a past life gone. 

The "homeless" is now homed at the cross.

The "prostitute" is now pure at the cross.

The "liar" now stands in the truth at the cross.

Mercy is the judge, grace was the proof--justice brought equality through Love sacrificed.

Through the precious blood of Jesus---the sinner is stated precious, a loved child of God.

There is no higher or lower position of love, but equality, worth, value. He did not pay more blood for one than another…He paid it ALL, and for ALL.

Justice treats a stranger as a friend, seeing them for who they could be as a brother in Christ. 

Justice welcomes in the lonely, showing care, introducing them to the Faithful Companion. 

Justice shows no favoritism, but sees every life, every eye, as on worth the cross---precious---redeemable---loved in the sight of God.

The world declares that justice must be served, but Christ declares,

JUSTICE MUST SERVE.

Are you serving the stranger that he may be welcomed home?