You Follow Me

John 21:18-22 (NCV)


¹⁸ I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you tied your own belt and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and someone else will tie you and take you where you don't want to go." ¹⁹ (Jesus said this to show how Peter would die to give glory to God.) Then Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me!"
 ²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the follower Jesus loved was walking behind them. (This was the follower who had leaned against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who will turn against you?")²¹ When Peter saw him behind them, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
 ²² Jesus answered, "If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me."


I have come to realise after so long that my walk with Jesus is quite unique. My situation and set of challenges differ a fair bit from the typical Christian. I am not trying to make myself out to be special. In fact, given the choice I'll choose to be the typical Christian anytime. Fortunately or unfortunately,  I do not have the choice and having been through all that I have been through has made me the person I am today. Coming to terms with myself and my walk can be and has been tough to say the least. 


I find myself very often like Peter in the scriptures above. When Jesus gave specific instructions to follow Him, Peter was more concerned about someone else other than himself. I suppose I am similar to Peter in a slightly different way. I too tend to ask "What about so and so?" I also tend to question why I have to go through what I have gone through and am still going through. I sometimes envy others whom I know are not and will never go through my situations and circumstances in life. 


"I wish I was better looking."
"I wish my parents are super rich and I do not have to work so I can pursue my dreams."
"I wish I was more charismatic."
"I wish I was taller."
"I wish my voice was deeper."


As I read through the scriptures above on my way to work today, I felt that Jesus' answer to Peter was very apt for me and my attitude as well. 


 ²² Jesus answered, "If I want him to live until I come back, that is not your business. You follow me."


Whatever I go through, it's my walk before Jesus. Everyone has their own walk with Jesus. It is not my business to find out how others walk. I am to follow Jesus and have my own walk before Him. Help me to remember that Lord......

Divine Health And Healing

Just some verses on health and healing......


Isaiah 53:4-5 (NASB) Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God and afflicted. 5) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by  His scourging we are healed.


1 Peter 2:24 (NASB) and He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.


Matthew 8:17 (NASB) This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:"He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases."


Romans 8:11 (NASB) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Strongholds

Just a thought. I only saw this over the weekend. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (Amplified) says "For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds," Usually strongholds refer to things that have been built up over a long period of time and are really difficult to overcome. I know for myself that there are a number of strongholds in my life. Thank God that His weapons can overthrow as well as destroy them.