Opposites

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