“Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:22
When Jesus called to show the disciple Peter the kind of death that he would face, Peter turned back to look at John and asked Jesus, “what about Him Lord?”
It is in our human nature to compare ourselves with others, or to wonder about them. When certain circumstances come our way, especially negative ones, we curiously look at the people around us and wonder, ‘what about them?’ When positive things happen to others, we look at ourselves and wonder, ‘what about me?’
Our salvation is individual, so is our calling, so is our lives. No two people share the same destiny, even if they are called to similar ministries. In the same way, God will allow unique situations to shape us depending on our backgrounds, our personalities our experiences, our attitudes, our shortcomings and more; and also depending on the distinctive role He has predestined for us.
There are also no two people who share the same story of how they came to salvation, even our experiences in our walk with God varies. God can reveal to us the same thing but in diverse ways, and anyhow, He still remains sovereign.
This reminds me of the parable of the workers in the vineyard who all started work at different hours in the day, some very early in the morning, and some just when the day was about to end, and yet all received the same pay.
When those who had worked longer complained to the master, he answered them, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20:1-15
You see, my business with God is my business with God; it is not my business what you agree with God. Christ, our savior is today saying to us the same thing he told Peter long ago, ‘You must follow me.’ Stop turning around to see how others are doing, quit wondering how God will deal with them; what is it to you if God pays them twice as much as He pays you, or half as much? You must follow Christ.
