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.