The ideal of being able to control someone only comes in form of Communist Regime, Nazism, Watergate and other governments to name a few cases of extreme control. The idea if you run a tight ship and know whatever one is doing you do not have to worry that your ship is about to sink unless the enemy fires and makes a hit. Well America stop Nazis on foreign shore, Communism fell in the Nineties I believe and Watergate was the time of Nixon. That type of control is often seen as mindcontrolling as well. Because your not allowed the freedom to think beyond what they teach, advocate and indoctrinate. God is merciful he is all knowing, but he is not advocator of control, indoctrination but he does teach and allows us to think differently then He does if we want too. It is point we fail at when it comes to the idea of choices. God does not require us to follow him, but with the opposition to follow there is blessing from him. Some blessings are never given because a person follows not God. And some blessings just do not come til heaven.

Peter had made his choice to follow Jesus and Jesus said to Peter he would be lead where he did not want to go to signify his death. Now I am paraphrasing part of what Christ said for it is said to be prophesy of the type of death Peter would go through. Peter would be hung on a cross upside down. He request upside down because he was not Christ. Peter then wanted to know about the death of a man and Jesus asked him what is that to thee. What if I wanted him to live until I return, it has nothing to do with you following me. Just follow me. Disciples thought Jesus meant that man would live until he returned and Jesus was only saying what if, not that it was going to happen.

To follow Jesus is not control, but a choice. A choice that some might even consider not a choice because without following Christ the only other opposition is to follow evil or one's own way of thinking that in truth can be similiar to other people, when you look at all the different faiths and political views in the world. Why choose Christ if it represent a life of sacrifice and commitment to following God's will. Jesus followed God's will despite the persecution of the people, despite the attitude of the Pharisees wanting to kill him, he follow God his Father's instruction. John 21 takes place after Christ death and resurrection, but there is a point, when we take up our cross to follow Christ we are doing so like anyone else does who is convicted of what ever direction they choose to fight against those who think less of them in some form or fashion, and also those who will cheer a person on. Why take up your cross and follow Jesus, why face people of sometimes opposition that can lead to death, and opposition from the crowd for daily living? It is easy to follow the crowd and not to choose to be different because of God's will for your life. Would Noah been saved if he had not built an ark, would Abraham been the father of the nation of Israel if he had not follow God to the promise land, and would Daniel been a leader during time of Babylon if he had not faced the den of lions. It not about following God for greatness of ourselves, but God's greatness in the world to protect his people until it their time to go home and be with Him. What about the glorious way Steven died in the the New Testament in Acts 8. Others dying to set man free to hear the gospel of Jesus, to know Jesus who died on the cross for their sins to bring peace to the world because of His Father's love for them. Our sacrifice to serve Christ must be because of the love he gave to each of us. Our sacrifice to follow Christ must be to share Christ love for the world. His message of love and hope for eternity. The message of his Father's love to bring peace to the world. His message of hope that we will learn to love each other by his power and not ours alone. To follow Christ is to love and to forgive and to obey, until we see Jesus. Teaching people the power of Christ's love.

There is many things that were never recorded that Christ did. There many thing Jesus will do for those that follow that never is recorded in the human book of life beyond our computer minds.Yet what we can understand from not only the four Gospels but 66 books of the Old (39) and New Testament (27 New Testament) is God has a plan for each of us. We choose the path we should go one for God's glory or one to our shame, and dishonor to God. Do not worry about the fate of another person, Jesus knows all about it so just share is love with everyone teaching, admonishing/warn others of God's warth and sharing the goodness of His love. Love is not control.

Dear Heavenly Father help us to love as Christ loved us. You gave us Jesus as example how we should live. Help us live for his glory. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:

Colossians 3:12-17 KJV
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.