John 21
You Follow Me!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, July 1. If today is your birthday, happy birthday! Happy July everyone! We are halfway through 2020, let’s pray that the second half of the year is better than the first.
Are you content to do what God asks of you or are you distracted by what everyone else is doing around you?
I am convinced that people are miserable because they are playing the comparison game, especially right now. Mark Twain famously said, “Comparison is the root of all discontentment.” Contrasted with the Apostle Paul, who triumphantly said, “I have learned to be content in every circumstance” (Philippians 4:11).
Which one are you? It’s a choice! It’s a learned behavior…
If you are struggling with this, then you are in good company. So did Peter! Listen to John 21:19-22 and how it reveals both Peter’s struggle and Jesus’ focus. Jesus had just restored Peter back to his place as a leader in the church and had given him grace upon grace for Peter’s three denials.
[Jesus] said to him, “Follow Me!” Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them… So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
We get distracted by comparison, in and out of the church. Whereas, Jesus wants to keep us focused on Him. How does Jesus want to keep us focused? It is not with busy work or job descriptions or heavy burdens, but through a personal relationship with Him. Never forget that “follow Me” is a grace-based invitation to personal relationship; it is Jesus’ calling you to get back in His easy yoke and learn from Him.
Seize the moment and Follow Jesus! Learn contentment by taking your eyes off everyone else and focus on Jesus!
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