Opposites

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

We serve such an interesting God. He seems to relish in opposites. If you want to gain something, you must give up first. If you want to live you must die. He has a plan of salvation which has a death at its heart. Lose your life to find it.

No wonder the disciples and religious leaders were so often confused. Jesus always found a way of doing exactly what people didn’t expect. He would heal people and tell them to not say a word. When they tried to proclaim him king, he would sneak away from the rejoicing crowds. He loved those who were hated and mocked those who were uplifted.

Why is it important to recognize this fact about Jesus and God? Simply put, we can never assume we know God’s plan for our life. It’s very easy to rationalize a situation of path that you think would be best for your life but if the Bible is any marker you can bet sure that you’re wrong.

That is where faith and trust really come in. Being able to put aside your own understanding and plan is the best thing you can do. It’s hard because we think we know what is best. The good news is that God is able to create something even better than your imagination can fathom.

²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:16

Here we see the big secret, or not so secret, reason why God’s ways seem so opposite sometimes. We as human being have a tendency of looking at life in the short term. God is always thinking about the greater picture. He is thinking about your salvation and that is why many times His ways are not our ways.

That is the great choice that we always have to make. Do you follow your own plan which may be good for the short term or do you follow God’s plan which is focused on the greater picture?

To help you chose, I’ll leave you with one last verse.

²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Matthew 16:27

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

Leaven

⁵ Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

Matthew 16:5-6

Jesus can really make you scratch your head sometimes. While his disciples were worried about the physical absence of real bread, Jesus answered with some spiritual lesson. Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. What did that have to do with eating? Sometimes it looked like Jesus’ mind was lost in thought and a word would trigger an idea- in this case bread made him think of leaven.

The disciples were left confused which explains the next verse:

⁷ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

Matthew 16:7

Now we could unpack the words of Jesus and try and discover the meaning behind it, or we could just stay with this little interaction and learn from that. Let’s do the second.

How many times have you read a verse in the Bible, gotten confused and simply let it go? It’s easy to read on and find something that you do understand. Although that will probably make you feel better, it keeps you from truly learning and growing.

The Bible should be a challenge. It should be a struggle. Don’t forget that you are reading the words of God. Jacob wrestled with God all night for a blessing, we should be able to wrestle for a few minutes or even hours to gain the same.

The good news is that even the disciples, who lived with Jesus for years, were often confused by his words. We’re in good company. The difference is that they were physically with him and so were able to hear his explanations after the fact.

That is where prayer and study comes in. Like the disciples who simply spent time with Jesus and learned the difficult ideas, we too can do the same. Praying and reading and spending time in God’s word will bring the answers that we seek. They also build a relationship with God.

Next time you are with God in the Bible and he says something confusing, don’t ignore him and move on. Stay a while and hear what he has to say. There is a blessing for those who do.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

A Dispute

²⁵ Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. ²⁶ And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

John 3:25-26

John 3 is usually quoted for v.16, but there is much more than one verse. Starting at v.25 we see that there is an argument rising. When you look at it closely it seems to be between John’s followers and Jesus’ disciples, but it’s not. It’s between the Jews and John and Jesus is only used to try and get John to lose control and become a bad example to those around him.

This happens often within the church. Arguments arise and many times neither side realizes that the argument really isn’t about either one of them, but actually Satan using an opportunity to create discord and bad behavior in the church. Many times he wins.

John, however, doesn’t let himself to be swept up in the argument. Look at his response to the  Jews.

²⁷ John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’

John 3:27-28

Instead of getting his emotions or ego to control him, John humbly states his place. He knows that he isn’t the Christ. He knows that he isn’t the focus or important center. All he has is from God and he will follow His will.

If we were to follow John’s example, how many ugly scenes could be avoided within our churches. How many times could we avoid giving Satan a win within our own pews? John wasn’t the Christ but he truly was a real son of God.

John also says his famous words here.

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

These words were not just meant for John, but they should be our words as well. Church is not a place for us to increase. It is not a place to gain power and authority. Church is a place where Christ should be increased. If we all looked at the church in this way, we could really make a home for God.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

See Life

³⁶ He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 3:36

It’s amazing how much emphasis the Bible puts on your belief. If you simply believe in the Son, Jesus, you can have eternal life. Realize of course that this belief is not dead or powerless. The belief that we must have has to be one that can create change and movement in our lives.

Of course the opposite is equally true. Not believing in the Son keeps you from life itself. Notice how it says that you shall not see life, as if life actually only starts when you begin to believe in Jesus. What we are ‘living’ now is just an empty husk compared to the real life that is available to all who are willing to make the great leap to believe.

The last few words of the verse can seem very scary. The wrath of God is on all who do not believe. Some people can read this and think that God is uncaring and cruel. He punishes those who reject His Son. But I see it as a natural consequence. Do you blame fire itself when you burn yourself if you were to stick your hand into a flame? Of course not. Fire is hot and burns. That is not punishment but a natural reality of fire. God is similar.

God is pure goodness. He is the giver of life and life itself. To reject God is to reject life. Can you blame God for you yourself rejecting to live? Life, like the burning of fire, is just a natural state of God. Remember too that there is no other source of life.

I hope you can see your belief in Jesus, not as a requirement or decision but also as a natural consequence. I hope that when you experience the love, joy and peace of Christ that you just naturally become believer in it and Him.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

Don’t Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:25

Last week we talked about our treasures. The question was asked, where do you focus most of your effort and attention? Is it on the physical things of this world or is it in our future life with God in heaven?

Today, we will continue with this theme. Jesus made it perfectly clear that he loves us and wants the best for us. He made it very clear that he knows what we need in this life. He himself came down to this world to experience it. He said to put our focus on the things of heaven but that creates anxiety for us who believe that we ourselves must care for our futures here. Matthew 6:25 is telling us the exact opposite. Jesus, knowing our needs, is promising that we will have our futures here secured even if we put our focus on the heavenly things first. This is where true faith is experienced and challenged. Do not worry! That is the core theme of Matthew 6:25. Do not worry, not because you will win the lottery and not have to worry about but, but because God will always provide your needs in this life. Notice I say needs here and not wants.

It is the difference between needs and wants that our true struggle rests. God promises our needs will be met but the world offers us wants to fill our joy, desire and fulfilment. The wants of this life truly are appealing. Who wouldn’t want a big fancy home, expensive car, pool, world vacations and more? This world can be very hard and stressful and that vacation can really be a benefit sometimes. The struggle however is what is more important to you? Will you put that ‘want’, whatever it may be above what God is trying to give or lead in your life?

The problem with wants is that they are never satiated. You can always have room for more and in fact an old want quickly loses its appeal and something bigger is desired. Wants can easily become more and more important in someone’s life. It can quickly rise up in the pyramid of importance you create for yourself. If not restrained and controlled, it can even take the spot of God.

Don’t get me wrong. There is no problem in having a big home, fancy car, pool, enjoying a luxury vacation or other expensive things. Wants, in of themselves, are not sinful just as money itself is not sinful. Sin begins when those things begin to take control of a person’s mind and life. When you begin to worry, not about your needs but your lack of wants, it is a sign that you may be going down a dangerous path.

Do not worry. It’s a simple message from God. Are you following it?

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto