“Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what shall this man do?’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me’” (John 21:21-22).
We could have entitled this devotional: “Mind your own business!” It has always amazed me that after Jesus had this very intimate time with Peter that he could even consider this question … and then I remember doing the very same thing when God has dealt with me. I know of times in my life when God has specifically put His finger on my heart to do something for Him that I considered impossible. I forgot what Clarence Jones once said: “When God’s finger points, God’s hand will open the door.” I forgot what J. Hudson Taylor once said: “I have found that there are three stages to every great work of God; first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”
Peter had spent time with Jesus reaffirming that He believed in Peter. Even though Peter did not believe in Peter; Jesus could see down the road to the life that Peter would live. Peter doubted his own abilities so much that when John passed by, he asked Jesus about what John would do. I love Jesus’ reply. He told Peter to mind his own business! He told Peter not to concern himself with the will of God for someone else, but to be consumed with God’s will for him. This is good advice for all of us.
I remember when God originally touched my heart for the Deaf. I was overwhelmed with the thought that someone needed to take the Gospel to the Deaf world. While God was busy touching my heart, I was hard at work trying to find “volunteers” for God among those in the same service with me. I determined that the Holy Spirit should use some of the people in our church that were not nearly as busy as I was to accomplish this task. While I was busy pointing out others, I could sense the Holy Spirit of God quoting Jesus’ words here … “Follow thou Me!”
Today is a good day to focus on the will of God for your life. Don’t waste a minute trying to “help” God with His will for someone else. Do that thing God has placed in front of you to do. Regardless of how impossible the task may seem. Regardless of how little ability you feel you have to finish that goal. Regardless of your wisdom, or plan for accomplishing the goal. Jesus says to you (like He said to Peter) “Follow thou Me!” So, get off the shore … leave the fishing behind … get about doing the thing that God knows He made you for, and make a difference in this world today!