A Moment With Pastor Fred

Of all the chapel messages I heard in Bible college one still is firmly implanted in my mind. The speaker was a pastor from FL. I have long forgotten his name. His text was Jn 21:22. The resurrected Christ had just told Peter about the way in which he would die – then re-commissioned him, “Follow me.” But Peter turned and saw John. He asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” 

I just read Jn 21 for my devotions this week. It all came back to me. The pastor using the old KJV, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me.”  You can’t follow Jesus if you have turned around looking at others. 

God has a unique plan for each of our lives. We too have been commissioned to follow Christ. Recently in our series from Hebrews we spoke often about keeping our focus on Christ. “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”  Your race is like no one else’s. We’re not running in competition with each other. It’s foolish to compare your race to mine – or vice versa. Some races are long, others are short. Some races are more difficult than others, but our loving Father knows exactly what we need to conform us to be more like Christ. I may not be able to run your course, and you mine. But I can finish my race – and you can finish yours with God’s help. And that should encourage our hearts.

Gal 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”  In other words, “What is that to thee?  Follow thou me.”