LIVING FOR LEGACY
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Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, there is no power greater than yours, no love deeper than yours, no care for me more complete than yours. Please accept the gratitude I express in my words and actions.
Read JOHN 21:20–25
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 believers 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?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Draw a map of the path your life has taken so far.John’s final scene may have been included to disperse the rumor he references (v. 23). To tell that story, he had to set it up with the rest of the chapter—and we are the richer for it. Imagine the gap that would be left if we knew nothing of that awe-filled breakfast on the beach, or Jesus’ intimate walk with Peter! What if Peter had preferred John’s lot and spent his time writing a fifth gospel rather than laying the foundations of the early church? However small or strange our story may seem, living in God’s plans for us leaves a mark. Yet when it gets hard, how easy it is to hesitate. Like Peter (vv. 20, 21) we look around, wondering what others are up to, whether we’ll face this future alone or if there might be an alternative.
Jesus’ response refocuses us on all that matters: ‘Follow me’ (vv. 19, 22). The paths he has for each of us start and end in different places, traverse different terrain, and last for different lengths. In places they cross or run alongside each other, but no two are the same. Any anxiety that stirs is settled when we remember that he is both ahead of and alongside us (Deuteronomy 31:8), writing new chapters of his story in, and with, our lives (v. 25).
Apply
Take some time reflecting on Ephesians 2:10. Where do you sense God calling you to good works?
Closing prayer
As I follow you, Lord Jesus, help me to remember that you are not only always with me, you go before me and are able to give me courage to do whatever you have called me to do.
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