The Danger of Comparing Ourselves with Somebody Else!

Jeremiah 45; Jeremiah 46; Jeremiah 47; Psalm 105; John 21
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Scripture

John 21

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

Observation

It is always a temptation to look around and think to myself, “well I am doing better spiritually than that person.” Never judge your walk by looking at other people, but you should measure how you are doing by looking in the mirror of God’s Word. James says that the Word of God is like a mirror, “For if a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God's law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.” James 1:23-25

That is why it is so important to be in God’s Word everyday so that we can see what we look like and make changes everyday to be in line with how God wants us to be!

Anytime we measure our spiritual maturity by someone else’s we will always be wrong in our assessment!

Application

I will work on the log in my eye and not worry so much about the speck in everybody else’s!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is so easy to compare myself with someone else when I need to just keep my focus totally on You. I pray for those that are on my heart that seem to be struggling so much these days. I pray that you will make me spiritually humble enough and so right with you that when I speak to them they will see You and hear You rather than me. I know that I need to speak to them and exhort them, but I need to be so close to You so that they only see You and not see me when I talk with them. I pray that you would prepare their hearts and my heart so that repentance could happen and their walk with You and their relationship with other Christ followers could be restored. I pray for You to do a Mighty Work! In Jesus Name Amen.

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