Don’t look at Christians, look at Christ

‘Lord, what about him?’ John 21:21 NIV

One day Peter looked at John and asked Jesus, ‘… “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “… what is that to you? You must follow me’ (John 21:21-22 NIV). When others disappoint you, remember that you have disappointed others. When others give you bad advice, remember that you have given others bad advice. There is only one person who won’t disappoint you and will always point you in the right direction—Jesus. He doesn’t merely know the way, He is the way. ‘… Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NIV).

When you follow even the best of Christians, they will sometimes cause you to stumble or be confused. But when you follow Jesus, He will illuminate every step you take. Christ’s own disciples would have disappointed you. Peter was racially biased and sometimes honoured Jews over Gentiles. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on those in a village that refused overnight accommodation to Jesus and His disciples. Thomas doubted the truth of the resurrection and said, ‘Unless I feel the imprint of the nails in His hands, I will not believe He is alive’ (see John 20:25). Yes, people will disappoint you. But Jesus won’t. That’s why the Bible says, ‘… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. …’ (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV). The only people who can let you down are the people you lean on. So, the word for today is—lean less on people and more on Jesus.