These words are all we need to hear. But we need to hear them again and again.
Peter needed to hear them again. We see in John 21 that v. 22 was the second time our Lord said this to Peter. He had just told him the same thing a moment before: “Follow me” he commanded, in verse 19. But already, Peter needed to hear these words again.
So Jesus said it a second time, only more emphatically: “You follow me!”
Aren’t we just like Peter? We need to hear God’s words to us again and again.
And like Peter, sometimes we need to hear them again, right after we’ve heard them!
Because of the envy in our hearts that can lead us away from God, we need to hear these words over and over again.
This is why we must daily pursue the spiritual disciplines. They are a means of grace whereby we hear the Lord say to us again: You follow me!
This is why we need to regularly gather for corporate worship and the preaching of God’s Word—because this is where we hear the Lord say to us again: You follow me!
This is why we must continually pursue biblical fellowship with other believers—so they can remind us again of our Lord’s words: You follow me!
Ordinary. That pretty much sums up my life of late. A stomach virus recently made its way through my little family, one at a time. So the most exciting event in the last two weeks was a trip to the bank. Needless to say, I was looking forward to free lollipops from the teller.
But even though we are healthy now, not much has changed. We’re pretty much home, all day, every day, doing what we did the day before.
So when I listened to my dad’s message from Together for the Gospel, entitled “Ordinary Pastors” I was very encouraged. I know, it is addressed to pastors (obviously!), but substitute the “ordinary pastor” for “ordinary wife and mother” or “ordinary _________(fill in the blank with whatever you do)” and I think you’ll find a lot of relevant truth.
When my dad identified with the temptation to discouragement that ordinary pastors face, I could certainly relate as I am often discouraged about my mothering.
When he reminded pastors that the gospel (and not their administrative skills or creativity) was most important, I was reminded that the power of the gospel is also at work in my heart and home.
When he exhorted pastors to imitate the patience of Jesus Christ, I was encouraged to persevere in patience as I train my four-year-old.
Each point was relevant for me in my ordinary days as I seek to love my husband and care for my children.
So, the next time you find a few moments in your ordinary day, consider listening to this message as though it were addressed to you—and see if you aren’t blessed.
After Jesus told Peter to stop comparing himself to John, he told Peter what he must do:
“Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22)
In order for Peter to face his future martyr’s death—which he didn’t want, but couldn’t do anything about—he needed to hear these words from his Lord: You follow me!
In fact, this was all Peter needed to hear. It was enough.
He did not need to hear or do anything else. These three little words were sufficient to enable him to face the agonizing death assigned to him by God: You follow me!
Our Lord gives us the same command. For every unwanted experience or withheld blessing, the Lord would say to us: You follow me!
And just as these words were enough for Peter, so they are enough for us.
They are all we need to hear and obey in order to glorify God in every difficult experience God assigns us.
You repent and resolve to put away envy, but the feelings only grow more intense. And so do the circumstances: five more of your friends get pregnant, or that one friend with the big house gets a bigger one!
Can anyone relate? I sure can.
At these times we can be tempted to discouragement and despair. We think, “This is not working. I might as well give up.” We may even become more entrenched in self-pity and envy than before.
But it helps to remember that this is a battle. The enemy (our sin of envy) won’t give up after just one jab. We may need to settle in for a long-term fight.
I remember a time I was struggling with envy: I prayed for God’s blessing on this person every morning for many months. My feelings didn’t change overnight, but over time, God transformed my heart to one of love for this person.
So let me encourage you—don’t give up in your battle against envy! Each time you pray, each time you meditate on God’s Word, each time you reflect on God’s goodness, you are weakening envy. Even though you might not see results at first, God will give you victory, if you persevere and do not give up.
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:8-9
After Jesus told Peter to 
