When I was in the second and third grade, I attended a single room country school. The desks were designed for two students to sit together and so it was I found myself sitting with my cousin and best friend Harry. Harry was smart! You could tell by the thick glasses he wore. Because he was so smart I cheated off him, well only occassionally. 
But there was something I was good at and even beat Harry. The teacher promised the second graders that he would award .25 cents to the student who could make the best chicken, complete with baby chicks. What we used back then was plastercine (today I guess play dough would come close). Well...I won! After all my dad had cows and chickens, Harry's dad only had pigs. I was to discover in time that I didn't need to cheat (except in arthemetic - never could figure out how 2x2=4) I had the ability to do things on my own, more importantly it was none of my business what Harry did. Actually he discovered I was copying (sounds better than cheating) from him so one day he put in all the wrong answers, I copied and blew it. All this I have shared because it kind of reminds me of Peter in John 21:18-23 . Peter has now been restored, forgiven and he is so joyful he puts his foot in his mouth. Very characteristic of Peter, the hoof and mouth disease thing. Here is what happened.
In 21:18 Jesus foretells Peter's death.
"Truly, truly I say to you,
when you were younger, you
used to gird yourself, and walk
wherever you wished; but when
you grow old, you will stretch out
your hands, and someone else will
gird you, and bring you where
you do not wish to go."
Some tradition has it that the Emperor Nero, who had Paul killed, also had Peter killed in Rome. Since Peter was a Jew he was crucified, cruicified upside down at his request as he did believe he was worthy to die as Christ had. His body was never recovered for some reason. Many scholars dispute this tradition while others endorse it. Whether Peter was in Rome and cruicified is not the issue here. What is important here is that Peter would die for his love and service for Christ Jesus. What is also important here is that Peter was not to be concerned what would happen to the other disciples, including the "beloved disciple" namely John 21:20-23 . Peter just has to know about John. Jesus tells him in 21:22, "Jesus said to him,'If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me' In 21:19b after Jesus foretells Peter's death He says, "follow Me!"
We are Ambassadors for Christ, we have a mission and that mission is to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28"19-20. Never mind what God has in store for someone else. Do what God has led you to do. Use your gifts, your talents and follow Christ along the path He has chosen for you.
Where He leads me I'll follow, follow all the way; Follow Jesus eve'ry day
-W.A. Ogden "Where He leads I Will Follow
Where will He lead you? Me? I don't know.
Faith of our fathers! living still, in spite of dungeon, fiore and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious word;
Faith of our fathers , holy faith! We will be true to Thee till death!
-Frederick W. Faber
I don't know where He will lead me, I just take one day at a time. Whatever situation I am in I pray for strength to serve Him. Whether I lie in a hospital bed I want to serve Him. If I am at home I want to serve Him, at work and at play. Whereever I go I take Christ with me. So that when my time, like Peter's, comes I can say "It is well with my soul."
In conclusion, my brothers and sisters in Christ remember that the work on the cross is done ( Hebrews 10:14-18), The crown is yet to be won ( 2 Timothy 4:8) We have lots of work to do for Christ, for the night is coming when we will no longer be able to work ( John 9:5). Lets join in prayer, in thought together as we labour for the Lord, concentrate on what work He has for you, regardless what may lie ahead. "lo, I am with you always..."
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