Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me” (John 21: 20-22).
Heavenly Father, through Scripture, You have shown us that You are God over the grand, and God over the small. You are the God who "laid the earth's foundation...who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy (Job 38:4, 6-7). Yet You are the God who, with Your own breath, breathed into [man's] nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7).
Through our Lord Jesus, You show us Your regard for the many and the one. We see Him ministering to crowds, and feeding multitudes; yet feeling the touch of one suffering woman on His cloak; applying healing salve to the eyes of a blind man.
We see Him, working in the collective and individual lives of ordinary Galilean fishermen, calling them out of obscurity; preparing them for the monumental role of taking the gospel to the world. We see Him, working in spite of their limitations and their failures.
We see Him taking the time to reinstate the disciple Peter, calling him into grace and forgiveness after Peter had denied Him. We see Him drawing the remorseful disciple out of the shadows of guilt and shame, challenging him to a deeper love, and a greater commitment.
Lord, You showed Peter, and us, that we each have a particular path—a specific assignment to which You call us. But like Peter, we are easily distracted, and look at the lives of others around us. We are quick to evaluate, and measure, and question, and challenge, and wonder about others' activities, and their gifts, and their calling, and their life as compared to our own.
Forgive us Lord! Help us not to lose focus. Help us to take our eyes off others, and fix them on You. Help us to hear Your words of correction, "what is that to you" (John 21:22)? Keep us from discontent and dissatisfaction. Keep us from complaining and comparison. Keep us from jealousy and bitter envy.
Draw us into a deeper love, and a greater commitment. Help us to follow You, trusting that the path You have designed for us will honor You, will advance Your kingdom, will touch the lives of others, and will bring about the most good in our lives.
Help us to be able to pray the words of David, sincerely, from the depths of our heart, "Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places..." (Psalm 16:5-6)
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