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’
(John 21:22).

I often get distracted by other people’s actions and character.  Once, I got distracted by the person in the fancy clothes in the fancy car who seemed to have it all together, and then I asked God, “Lord, what about him?  Why can’t I be like him?”  God answered me, “What is that to you?  Keep your eyes on Me, so I may establish the work of your hands. YOU must follow Me.”

I remember meeting this flawless couple who seemed to do everything perfectly.  Their marriage seemed flawless.  Their children seemed flawless, too.  I felt so much less of a good wife and a mother after I saw what THEY could do.  I asked God, “Lord, what about them?  I am not like them.”  And God answered, “What is that to you?  Your Righteousness comes from Me.  YOU must follow Me.”

I often look at ministers and other people involved in church ministry, and ask God, “What about them?”  God’s answer is always the same, “What are they to you? Some of those people work for Me, but do not even have a relationship with Me. They do not know Me and I do not know them. Do not let them distract you from your relationship with Me. YOU must follow Me.”

THEREFORE, MY BELOVED, AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY, BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING
(Philippians 2:12).

Know that every person is responsible to work out His own salvation, regardless of what other people are doing.  Every person is responsible to bring his own beliefs of shame, abandonment, rejection, and condemnation to God, regardless of what other people do with their heartache…because each person’s Truth, Hope, and Righteousness come from God.

AND LET THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD OUR GOD BE UPON US, AND ESTABLISH THE WORK OF OUR HANDS
(Psalm 90:17).

 What emotions are exposed in your own heart when you compare yourself to the other person(s) in your life who seem(s) so perfect?

I bless you to bring those emotions and their underlying beliefs to God. Let Him tell you who YOU are and how He wants YOU to follow Him.

PRAYER: Lord God, bring me to the place where I would only follow YOU…where I would only keep my eyes on YOU…where I would only obey YOU, and stop looking around to see what others are doing.