One of the reasons I’m on social media a lot less these days is that all the pointing at others is exhausting.
The right blames the left, while the left blames the right.
Someone isn’t woke enough, and someone else is too woke.
Christians point out what’s wrong with “those other” Christians, and usually in such a way that reveals they have the same issues.
Like I said, exhausting.
But it isn’t new. Mankind has always been in each other’s business, and God has always been trying to talk to each one of us about each one of us.
God talks to Adam about his sin, and he points to Eve.
God talks to Eve about her sin, and she points to a snake.
God talks to the snake about it, and the snake can’t point at anyone because, well, snakes don’t have fingers.
“Yeah, but that’s Old Testament.”
More like old as the hills, and we see it again at the end of John’s Gospel.
After a brutal soul-searching conversation trying to help Peter get honest about how much (or little) he loved Jesus, Jesus ended it with the simple command (again) for Peter to follow Him.
But Peter couldn’t help himself, and so he pointed at another disciple and asked, “What about him?” Jesus didn’t hesitate or blink when He responded.
Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” (John 21:22 NLT, emphasis mine)
So often, our response to Jesus’ call to obedience is to ask if it applies to everyone else, but Jesus always brings it back around to us.
“As for you.”
Today, know that God has given you everything you need to follow Him in simple obedience, and as you do, He will take care of everyone else.
When our eyes are on the Shepherd, our focus won’t be on what all the other sheep are or aren’t doing. Our only concern will be where He’s leading, and making sure that we’re following.
