Spiritual Tantrum

"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 21:21-22 (NIV).

Measuring our lives to the lives of those around us can lead to spiritual tantrums. I was one of four children my mother had in four-and-a-half years. She tried so hard to make us all feel equally loved and we were always prompt in letting her know when she was slipping. I remember getting eye level with the cups, as she filled all four with Kool-Aide, making sure the level was equal between the four. Anything less than equal was met with a childish tantrum, but, don't we still do it as adults? Instead of complaining against our earthly parent, we harbor discontent with our Heavenly Parent when we see a fellow believer blessed when we feel lacking. That discontent is equal to a spiritual tantrum. However, we can comfort ourselves that Peter. the rock, suffered the same malady. Jesus had just told him how he would die for following Jesus...Peter's response, "What about John?"  Jesus tells Peter He makes those decisions and John's fate isn't any of Peter's business. Notice, Jesus doesn't tell Peter He SHOULD follow Him, but that he MUST follow Him. There a distinct plan for each of Jesus' followers. Scripture says, "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:16). Your story, my story, was written down before we were ever born. My brother may have had more Kool-Aide in his cup from time to time, but I always got my portion and was refreshed. We must trust Jesus to provide, as we take up our cross and follow Him.