What Is That to You?

"What is that to you?"...These words tumble over and over in my mind...

They come from a passage in the Christian Bible. In the book of John chapter 21, Jesus is talking to a few of His disciples. Peter was being reinstated...being forgiven, after he had just denied that he knew Christ, even cursed Christ at the time when Jesus was being condemned to death. Then Jesus commissioned Peter to take care of His followers. After doing this, Jesus then told Peter that he would not have a pleasant death, but it would glorify God.

Peter turned around and saw John, another one of Jesus's disciples. John was often referred to as "the one whom Jesus loved." He was personally close to Jesus, and Peter asked "Lord, what about him?"

John 21:22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."

Wow. What is that to you? You have to do what God has called you to do, and not worry about what anyone else is doing...or going through - good or bad.

Life isn't fair. Things happen all the time that I don't understand, and I certainly don't appreciate it, especially during the hard times. And, I'm not going to lie, sometimes it can be difficult to see good things happen to others that aren't happening the same for me. It is hard to see bad things happening to people who don't seem to deserve it.

But that doesn't matter. I have to do what God has called me to do. To go through the trials, tests, experiences that He wants me to go through. These things are allowed in my life to make me a better person. To make me more like Christ. And He wants that for others too...He knows best, I don't.

My spiritual journey will not look like anyone else's. Sure, I may go through some similar things in life, but it will not be exactly the same as someone else. And, I will not respond like someone else may. I have to keep my eyes on Jesus. How He deals with someone else - whether blessing or trial - it should make no difference in me doing what He has called me to do.

When things don't go the way that I think they should go...What is that to me? I must keep my eyes on Jesus. I must follow the path that He has laid before me. I must keep putting one foot in front of the other and follow Him.

Where He leads me, I will follow. I must keep my eyes on Him and not on myself or everyone else around me.