Understanding our own calling
…”If I want him to live until I return, what does that matter to you? You must follow me.” – John 21:22
Jesus was speaking to Peter after He had a very important meeting with him – one of the last meetings between them. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after his resurrection. This is the famous dialogue between Jesus and Peter in which Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. Jesus commanded, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus prophesied about Peter’s future death. John was with Peter and Jesus as they walked along. Peter asked Jesus about John and whether he too would die. Jesus responded sharply to Peter’s comment by telling him not to worry about what John’s role or purpose in life was. Peter just had to worry about accomplishing his mission.
As workplace believers we measure our success based on whether we have achieved a certain position or stature in life. Even as Christians, we always face the temptation to believe that if someone has achieved prominence he is blessed. In his discussion with Peter, Jesus got to the heart of the matter of a person’s calling. Peter was worried about whether his friend John would get the same things in life that he had. Jesus told him that this should not be his concern. He had only one thing to worry about: his calling before God.
Are you tempted to compare yourself to where others are in life? Are you dissatisfied with where God has you right now? Be of good cheer – “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
