The Mirror of the Word by C.E. White can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Word-Devotions-Reveal-Refine/dp/B0DFZS83C7  To learn more about this author and other works, visit https://cewhitebooks.com/

“So Peter, upon 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!’”

—John 21:21–22

Jesus had just told Peter he was going to be martyred, and Peter’s first response was to look back at John and ask, “Well, what about him?”

How often do we look at others and wonder what God has planned for them and how that compares to what he has for us? When we’re on a difficult path, we look around to compare other peoples’ journeys to ours. We want to see if it’s fair or not.

Jesus makes it clear here that everyone’s life will be different. What he has for someone else cannot determine what he has for us. The life of faith requires that we follow him in our circumstances, not theirs.

If we keep our eyes on others’ journeys, we will destroy ourselves with either envy—believing they have an easier or better road—or pride—thinking our easier or better road is somehow a result of our merit. Both of these will cause us to lose our way.

Our only good path as believers is to keep our eyes on Jesus and to stay in step with where he leads us. That way, whatever it means for us in this life, leads to an eternal inheritance of joy with him. 

No matter what anyone else’s life looks like, our job is to follow Jesus. The destination will always be worth it.

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