Follow Me

It was the beach picnic that started the day ... well, really, it was Jesus call to throw the nets to the other side that gave them a huge catch and THEN they had a reunion breakfast of sorts, right there on the beach.  They had to be "high" on joy and surprise, on excitement and fulfillment.  Their Master was risen and He was right there on the beach with them, just like things used to be.  Just like they should be.

Peter, ever the fearless had jumped into the water at the announcement that Jesus was on the beach and swam/ran to be the first one there.  He was definitely the eager beaver.  And then for Jesus to single him out for the "Do you love me conversation" ... well, I think Peter just struggled a bit with where he fit in the "order."  Don't we all, really.  If we are honest.

Don't we think things like,
WOW!  God did that for them.  He's NEVER do that for me.
That's never happened for me
She's not even that committed and she gets everything she wants
Why did they choose him?  He seems the least qualified out of everybody.
Some people are just "golden."  They get everything they want.
Look at her life.  She's got everything I'd ever want and she's still not content.

Yeh.  Somewhere in our hearts we are both comparing and coveting what others have, get, or want.  I was reading the beach scene in John 21 this morning and the part that stuck out to me wasn't the oft-quoted "feed my sheep" section, but the three verses that followed it.

"Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, "Master, what's going to happen to him?" Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You—follow me."  

  John 21:20-22 (MSG)

Whether we want to admit it or not, we ask the same question... yeh, not always out loud.  But we ask, what about them??? In ministry, in life, it's hard not to look around and compare my life to others around me ... and there are just days when my spirit screams, Ok, Lord.  I get it.  That's what you're telling me to do.  But what about them???  Don't they have to do it to?  How come they get an 'out'?  ... or some days ... How come they get to do that and I don't.  Just sayin'  It's easy for us to get distracted by those we see out of the corner of our eye.  What are they doing?  What does God have for them?

But Jesus answer is what is echoing in my heart this morning.  YOU - Follow Me.  YOU.  Follow. Me.  He hasn't called us to any task or ministry more specific than YOU.  Follow. Me.  Yes, it will look different in different seasons and times, but at its core.  THAT is our calling.  Not a place or a job or a ministry, but simply where we are and in all we do to follow HIM.