John 21:21-22 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

We are so prone to compare ourselves to other people, saying, or at least thinking, “What about that person?” Jesus here gives the ultimate statement of personal responsibility. Every one of us is charged with following Him, wherever that leads. That will indeed be different for each individual, and that’s the problem. We tend to focus on the differences, instead of on our one Creator and Lord. When Jesus prayed for our unity in His Pastoral Prayer just before His arrest, (John 17) we are listening to voices other than His when we are divisive. Snowflakes are a good illustration. Despite their uncountable numbers, each one is different. Paul expounded on this at length in 1 Corinthians 12, talking about our different gifting, but we often fail to carry that to its logical conclusion, that people who are so different have different tasks and paths to follow. We are to pray for and support each other in various ways, but ultimately, each person has to stand before God on their own. Jesus is the only one who can stand in our place, and that is in the specific area of taking the penalty for our sins. That doesn’t remove our accountability for our obedience to God’s plan for our lives. We’re back to what Jesus said to Peter about John in this passage. Each person is accountable first of all to repent and believe for their salvation, (Mark 1:15) and then to seek God for what He wants them to do with their life, as measured in years, days, and seconds. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, we need to be asking how closely we are being obedient to our Lord.

I’ve struggled with this as much as anyone, I think. I have been so blessed in my life that I have foolishly thought I deserved it, when Jesus said clearly, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) In my case, that gets scary! Likewise, James said, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) I have no leeway to go looking at other people! I have not been in the spotlight as much as some people, and the devil has tried to stir up jealousy about “recognition.” God knows every detail of my life, and He is the One to whom I am accountable. I am to be grateful for His uncountable grace toward me, and strive to express my love for Him in full obedience, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your plans for me, for today and for each day. Help me indeed flow with Your Spirit on Your schedule so that Your will may be done to Your satisfaction, because that is why I am here. Thank You. Praise God!