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

This interplay between Jesus and Peter is deeply meaningful, and John is the only person who could have recorded it, because Peter had already been martyred at the time it was written. It is significant that Jesus asked Peter about his love and commitment three times, because Peter had denied he knew Jesus three times. You could say this was a deliberate reversal of that betrayal. It is also significant that what Jesus asked of Peter didn’t deal with him personally so much as it dealt with his interactions with other believers. Being self-centered is never the right course! And that leads us specifically to this verse. We are to be outward-centered when it comes to ministry, but inward-centered when it comes to responsibility and accountability. We are extremely prone to compare ourselves to others, either favorably or unfavorably. Jesus is here saying, “That’s none of your business.” Our focus is to be on our Lord, to be and do what He desires of us. After all, He gave Himself completely for us! Any time we get caught up in a pity party, we need to remember His Passion. Any time we get a swelled head, we need to remember that He created every atom in our bodies, and that it is only by His grace that we exist at all. The differences in priorities and values between this world and the kingdom of God are at times extreme! Recently I have been reminded of the differences between Japan and America, in terms of expectations and everything else, but they are nothing compared to the differences between the world system and the kingdom of God. That’s why we need to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds,” as Paul put it. (Romans 12:2) Otherwise, we will never rise above the world and its muck, to soar into the heights God intends for us.

This is something I have known to some degree for a long time, but God continues to work it into me. I’m very grateful for His patient persistence! I have fought with pride all my life, and sometimes God’s grace in that area has been painful. Pride is certainly an example of being self-centered. I have also been judgmental of others, and not always on the basis of Biblical standards. I have no valid excuses, though I have tried to excuse myself many times. I need to take Jesus’ words to Peter to heart and strive to be fully obedient to Him, focusing on others only in how He wants to bless them through me, for His glory alone.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You are doing in and around me in these days. Thank You that my grandson’s performance in the musical drama was exemplary, and that last night was a fitting climax to that. Thank You for everything You enabled us to do yesterday, and that we get to worship You in a group setting today. Thank You that our trip is drawing to a close, and we’ll be back in Omura this week. I pray that my words and actions, today and each day, would be properly focused on Christ Jesus my Lord, for the blessing of the people around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!