What About Them?

God says "Let Me Cook!"

Happy Selection Sunday! We have made it through the conference tournaments, only to find ourselves facing the same question once again: will I be chosen this time? The anticipation is palpable. Many teams and officials will be waiting in suspense for an outcome completely out of their control. For some, their path forward is clear, nothing will stand in their way toward the prize of dancing in the NCAA tournament. For others, their only hope is to try again next year. However, between these two groups there are those stuck in the middle.

The middle is a hard place to be: the middle seat on an airplane, the middle child, and the middle of the pack. It can be quite uncomfortable, and those stuck there can only pray to be relieved of the emotions that accompany it. Last week, Jesus told us “Don’t Wish” for things we do not have because wishing is a slippery and dangerous slope. This week, Jesus has not changed his message. The timing could not be more perfect.

In John 21, starting at verse 15, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” three times. Each time after Peter responded that he loved Jesus, Jesus asked him to take care of his sheep. He followed up with informing Peter that he was to suffer the same fate as Jesus in his last days.

The line of questioning that Jesus started with went over my head for years. Why would Jesus ask Peter, “Do you love me” before telling him to follow him? I believe it is because when the time comes for us to walk a hard road that God has laid out for us, it is our LOVE for him that will enable us to endure it. Jesus said if you love me… [insert command].

We love to love God when things are easy, we get the assignment, job, or opportunity. Where is that zeal when we are uncertain? When the road seems full of obstacles and shadows? Will we still praise him? Will we still be faithful in serving? Will we still shine bright with His spirit? Or, do we get tired of waiting and give up? Do we get frustrated and start complaining? Do we forget about 1 Peter 5:6 and take matters into our hands?

I believe this is what Jesus was really asking Peter (and us). Do you love me enough to remain faithful and continue the work I called you to do, when you are not in the “top 25?” I believe Peter was ok with the road he was asked to travel, but something in him wanted others to walk that same road as well. We know this because he asked Jesus, (referring to John, his favorite) what about him?

The saying is true, misery loves company.

That is because no one wants their life to be the only one hard. It’s difficult watching someone rise from the bottom to pass you by, or break free from the middle of the pack, when you are still stuck there. We ask questions like, “why not me?” “What am I doing wrong?” “How did they get picked over me?”

The truth is God is just, he is not fair.