CRISIE HUTCHINGS

I can hear the waves sweetly crashing on the shore as Jesus sat with his disciples that morning by the fire. They had just finished a breakfast of fish and bread. With them, sat Peter who had run for his life to escape the danger of knowing Jesus, and now, here he sat.

Jesus began to speak to Peter.

¹⁵ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. ¹⁸ Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” ¹⁹ This, He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Peter, once running from death was now commissioned to it!

The next statement that Jesus makes to him, is one of the most profound things Jesus ever said. And one we must all give attention to if we’re ever going to walk the path He has ordained for us!

²⁰ Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹ Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” (emphasis mine)

²² Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” (emphasis mine)

If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you???

What a stinging rebuke! OUCH! What a focus Jesus was giving to Peter! “Don’t worry about John, Peter, you keep your eyes on Me!!!”

We need that kind of focus today. So often, we’re in each other’s business instead of attending to the Father’s business as we’ve been commanded. We’re judging one another’s path, walk, and ministry. What would Jesus have to say to us today in this case?

Oh, I’ve heard this course correction for myself, when I’ve focused on others or discounted where I was, thinking I needed to be where everyone else was. But I receive it now as something to celebrate! Thank God, I don’t have to do what someone else is doing or take my cues from them. Jesus says simply, “you follow me”!

What’s it to us what anyone else is doing? Even when we see others doing or serving in the way we think God’s called us to, it’s still going to look different for each one of us, because Jesus calls us individually! Remember when He prayed all night to receive instructions regarding the selection of the disciples? The next day, he walked about, calling EACH ONE by name. Individually. He mentored each one individually. We are called as a corporate Body, but the Holy Spirit guides us and leads us on an individual path. It’s not going to look like everyone else’s.

Relieve yourself today of the pressure to walk a path like someone else. To live life or even minister like someone else. Man, all my life, I’d been measuring myself by what others did and thought I had to measure up to them or I wasn’t being a faithful Christian. But when the Lord revealed this conversation He had with Peter to me, it changed my life!!! In fact, Jesus was even saying to me, “what’s it to you, what they do”? That was freedom talking!

Since then, there are still times I’m tempted to measure myself by what others are doing, but I’m quick to remember what Jesus said…”YOU FOLLOW ME”!

Following Christ is a very individual path and command. I hope today, you’ll listen for His voice, setting you free from judging others and from the judgment of others about the path you are walking with Him. Follow Him alone! Hear Him alone.

I’ll leave you with a statement that was said by some ministers that came to our church one time:

When God shows you the path you are to walk with Him to fulfill His will, consult not with flesh and blood and FOLLOW HIM!!!

Let Christ be Glorified in All!

Crisie