John 21:21-22 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

We who write like to think that our words inspire others. We search for the right words to relate to our audience with all good intention. Some are very persuasive with stir up deep emotions and people respond positively to what they write.

Over the years I have witnessed various tactics used to move people to act. Some are inspired and sadly some are manipulative. Guilt has always been a part of Christian life but it isn’t to be used to cause people to act. I will admit there is room for service in all churches. No one person should be burdened with role of being a lone server in any ministry. But guilt is the wrong motive for service.

Peter’s words make me wonder what was going on in his heart and what might have caused him to ask “Well what about John? You are asking me to do all this but you have asked John to be your mother’s son.” Granted I am making up a conversation that did not exist except in my mind, but in my mind I see how I might act. That is relating to the story telling.

Put yourself in Peter’s shoes. How would you respond to be given a great responsibility? Would you respond like Moses, “I am not worthy.” Would you respond like Gideon, “I am not able.” Would you respond like Isaiah, “I will.”

In that same way when a brother or sister in the Lord makes a comment can you put yourself in their shoes? The most difficult one for me is “I wish I had your faith.” I hate it when people look at what I do and think less of themselves. I do not want that for them. There is no good answer that I have found. “Just do as the Lord asks, it is all any of us can do.”

“But Jesus hasn’t asked me to do anything.”

Yes, that was what Peter thought about John but 70 years later John wrote the Gospel of John, 3 epistles and the book of Revelations.