After Jesus restored Peter, he said to Peter that he would die a martyr’s death, and reiterated again: follow me. The call of Jesus is not to a comfortable life. It is not to worldly prosperity. It is not to upward mobility. It is to take up the cross and follow Jesus. It is to downward mobility and to follow Jesus.

Why should we follow Jesus if that’s what’s ahead of us? We should follow because (1) Jesus is the truth; (2) it is the way to joy and purpose; and (3) our resurrection and restoration is our real future.

We are called to change our definition of success to moving up and becoming the top dog to figuring out what God is calling us to do, and doing them. Our success is not defined by results but by our obedience and faithfulness.