Thought #28 — Only for those who want to be rich

Renato Cardoso's Blog

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Posted: 06 Jul 2014 08:41 PM PDT Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12.34 Since childhood, we learn to rely on people, knowledge and riches. At first, we are totally dependent on the first people we know: our parents and relatives. These, in turn, filled with the best intentions, teach us to study, to do well in school, to establish a stable future. And one of the first things we also learn in the course of our childhood into our youth is that money is a good thing and the more of it we have, the better. The only problem is that all that can turn into a big trap for us. If we get attached to the people we love, what will become of us if they let us down, leave us or die? If we rely solely on the knowledge that studies and Science can offer, what are we supposed to do when its limits do not meet our needs? For instance, when a doctor tells us that our disease is incurable or when the best lawyer says that our case is lost? And if we make money our security, what will we do if it runs out or is not enough to solve our problems? That is why Jesus warned us, “Do not let anything earthly become your treasure. Because nothing on earth is secure, durable or infallible.” Our heart will always be attached to what we value the most. And if what we value is over or fails us, our life will go down with it. The solution? He gave us the hint: “Gather yourselves treasures in heaven, where the moth and rust cannot destroy it and the thieves cannot break in and steal it.” Application: Love people, acquire knowledge, prosper as much as you possibly can— but never make it your treasure. When God becomes your riches, you will never be poor again. Have you ever been deeply shaken by the loss of somebody or by bad feelings caused by people who are close to you? Have you ever tested the limits of Science and have been let down? Have you ever had a problem that money could not solve? Leave you comment.

Thought #27 — The secret to being honored in public

Renato Cardoso's Blog

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Posted: 06 Jul 2014 11:22 AM PDT Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6.6 Spirituality is not a show to be broadcast in search of applause. Evidently, in public meetings where the goal is prayer and devotion to God, our acts will inevitably be seen. That is not the issue. The issue is when our acts of faith become nothing but a theatrical performance to impress others. God is not looking for actors.  He looks for sincere people. Your bedroom is a place of incredible power. There, or in any other place away from the eyes of others, you can have a conversation with God; pour out your anxieties and fears upon Him; ask for guidance; cry; smile; present to Him your dreams and plans for the future; repent from your mistakes; seek strength to keep up the fight and overcome. Unfortunately, not everyone uses this power. They think that God already knows what they need, that is why there’s no need for prayer. They say they do not have the time or do not feel like it. They do not know what they are missing. An old Christian saying states that, “He who walks on his knees does not stumble.” According to this Thought of Jesus, besides not stumbling, he is openly rewarded. Maybe your public shame is because of your pride of not bowing down and praying when you are alone. Application: Experiment praying in secret every day. If you do not have the habit of spending some time with God every day, what is stopping you? What are your excuses? Why do you think the prayer in secret is so valuable for both God and you? Leave your comment.

Thought #26 — Be suspicious of those who swear

Renato Cardoso's Blog

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Posted: 04 Jul 2014 08:04 PM PDT Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one. Matthew 5.37 “As God is my witness…” “I swear on my mother’s grave…” “I swear to God…” Have you ever used these or other similar expressions to confirm you are telling the truth? According to this Thought of Jesus, whoever is truthful does not need to swear by anything or anybody. A word is enough. His yes is yes. There is no doubt. There are no “buts”. The same applies to his no. Once more, Jesus breaks the standards of character and conduct. The Jews used to swear by heaven, by Jerusalem, or by their own lives. However, the same way they’d swear based on the Law of Moses, they also broke their oaths whenever it was convenient to them, using another part of the Law. Their promises and oaths were worth nothing. What Jesus establishes here is that our reputation for telling the truth must be so impeccable, that no one will require of us an oath to confirm our words. Adopting this standard requires of us a complete overhaul in our way of thinking and speaking. Concerning our way of thinking, we need to learn not to falter between yes and no. Being indecisive in our opinions. We must train ourselves to opt for either yes or no quickly and with conviction. After all, who is the one that is ahead, behind, beside, above, below and between yes and no? The devil and his suggestions. If we renovate our way of thinking and always chose either yes or no, in any situation, we will overcome our doubts and weaknesses. Then, the other half: be truthful and consistent with your words. Have zeal for them. Keep your word. For that reason, do not rush into saying things. Do not embellish your speech as to impress someone. Do not promise more than what you can deliver. When you build up this reputation, your word will be worth more than gold, literally. And you won’t need to reinforce it with oaths. Application: Train your mind to decide quickly and firmly between yes and no, always. And have zeal for your words so they are always true and kept. Do you constantly change your mind? Do you have a hard time sticking to an opinion or a decision? What is the reputation of your words among those who know you? Is there someone who has stopped trusting what you say? Do you have the habit of using sentences like “I swear to God…” to confirm that you are telling the truth? What do you need to change to build an impeccable reputation of being truthful? Leave your comment.

Thought #25 — The two legs

Renato Cardoso's Blog

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Posted: 03 Jul 2014 08:02 PM PDT Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   Follow Me. John 1.43 It is hard to imagine how people would leave behind their houses, business, friends, family members, fears, doubts and personal goals at the sound of two simple words from the mouth of Jesus: “Follow Me”. What did He have that, just by listening to these words and looking at Him, people would see something much greater, more important and more valuable than whatever they knew and owned up to that time? How could they, so suddenly, without giving it much thought, leave everything behind and follow Him, without further information? It is quite true that not everyoneaccepted the invitation. Some trusted more in what they already had and knew. They doubted His words. Their unbelief was bigger than their faith. What they did not understand is that if Jesus were to give further explanation and riches of details about what would happen to them if they left everything to follow Him, these people would not need faith. If He had explained and told them, “Follow Me because then you will have guidance for your life. Together with Me, you will always be safe because I am the Son of God. I will never leave you in need of anything; you will be infinitely happier and better than you are today…” — in this case, the appeal starts to look like a good deal. No need for faith, just intelligence. Intelligence is essential, but it is not everything. Faith transcends intelligence. That is why these two things, when combined, turn us into invincible people. Never despise one to use only the other. Use them both equally. He who has intelligence and faith does not hesitate in following Jesus. In Him, we find the guidance for life and safety for tomorrow. He who follows Him, won’t be mistaken. Application: Use your faith coupled with your intelligence, always. Just like your two legs, take a step with one, then another with the other. Don’t be hopping around like you’re playing Hopscotch. Have you been following Jesus? Close or from afar? Actually or just mentally? Have you been able to balance well the use of faith and intelligence or do you tend to use one more than the other? Why do you think some people do not respond to ” Follow Me”? Leave your comment.

Thought #24 — The address of God

Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   What are you looking for? John 1.38 First, notice how Jesus loved asking questions. Reading His words in the Gospels, you realize that often times He would speak to someone or to a group of people asking a question. This was not accidental. When you think about the answer to a question, it forces you to think. This means that Jesus wanted, and still wants, people to think. God does not want believers who do not think, because that would not glorify Him. He wants intelligent worshipers. (Notice how we always ask some questions here at the end of every Thought. Those who have been answering these questions have surely benefited more over each Thought.) Once you’ve considered this, now think about the question He has made above, “What are you looking for?” Think about your answer. Many people do not know how to answer this question. Not everyone is looking for things that are very significant in life. There are those who are just going through the motions, day by day, breathing, eating, drinking, going from here to there, sleeping — but not really looking for a more significant existence. While there are others who are desperately seeking and putting all their strength in the pursuit of — the wrong things. Fame. Money. A wrong relationship. Recognition from their friends. And so many other things that seem important, but are not. The two young men to whom Jesus asked this question replied with another one, “Master, where do You live?” That is an intelligent pursuit. When you find out where the Master lives and you find Him, you find out another treasure: that in fact, He wants to live in you. Application: Think about what you’ve been searching for in life, where do you focus your energy, and if this search is worth your efforts. What have you been looking for? Have you found the Master yet? Have you already become His own address? Leave your comment.

Thought #23 — This is the time, here is the place

Renato Cardoso's Blog

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Posted: 02 Jul 2014 05:40 AM PDT Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.   Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near! Matthew 4.17 This was one of the first messages that Jesus transmitted to His listeners. It contains two main thoughts: (1)  Repent — the Greek word He used (μετανοέω metanoéō) indicates change of mind followed by a change of behavior. It means, “Changing your situation by changing your thoughts”. Jesus challenges us to think different so that our life can be different. Those who are living in the wrong path, in the path of self-destruction, far from God — are living that way because their thoughts are twisted. Repentance begins in the mind, with a change of thought, and it ends with an action, with a change of behavior. Without both changes, there is no repentance. (2) The nearness of the kingdom of God — Nearness here is not only of time, but of place as well. The kingdom of God has come near to you, in other words. It is right there, right in front of you. It means opportunity, the appropriate moment, the time and place to make the most of the chance. Not everyone receives this opportunity. There are people who would give everything for the opportunity you’ve been given, to know the Thoughts of Jesus throughout these 40 days. But this chance has not come to them as yet. God has come close to us. He comes near to us in many different ways to give us the chance of salvation and to know a better life. However, in order to seize this opportunity, we have to change our thoughts and actions. “Change your way of thinking and acting, because I am here, right next to you.” This was one of the first messages from Jesus. Refusing to change your thoughts and actions, disregarding the fact that God has come near to you, means you are sending Him away, pushing Him away from you and wasting a great chance that may never come back. “No Lord, thanks for the visit, but I am fine the way I am. I want to stick to my way of living and thinking. I would rather not be disturbed, please.” You can rest assured He will answer you and He will go towards the one who wants Him. Application: God is near to you through this text. It was Him who brought you here. Make the most of this chance and change your way of thinking and acting. Do it now. Do you perceive God coming near to you through these 40 Thoughts? Have you been changing your way of thinking and acting as a result of what you’ve been learning? In what way? Leave your comment.

Thought #22 The upside down world

Part of the series “40 Thoughts of Jesus.” View all previous here, but first learn how the purpose works here.

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You still lack one thing: Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me. Luke 18.22

Jesus was talking to a very, very rich young man. It was not common for a young man to be rich; therefore, it is presumed that he had inherited his riches from his father. He knew how much an inheritance was worth, but he did not know how much a conquest was worth, for he never had to work hard to conquer anything. This young man also wanted to inherit eternal life, and this longing led him to Jesus.

However, when Jesus was straightforward and pragmatic in the answer, the young man heard what he did not want to hear and walked away sad. Actually, he did not come looking for an answer. He came looking for easiness.

But there is no easiness in the world of Jesus. Compared to the world we live in, the world of Jesus is upside down and back to front. Everything is backwards. In the world of Jesus, the last is the first, the greatest serves the smallest, and he who gives is happier than he who receives. In the world of Jesus the weak is strong, the persecuted are blessed, and the enemies must be loved. He, being rich, made Himself poor; having authority, decided to submit Himself; being a master, washed the feet of His disciples. The world of Jesus is really upside down to those who live outside of it.

Just as that rich man, many are those who do not want such a turnaround in the lives. They do want something from Jesus, but do not want their way of living to be challenged. They want things that they can only get by entering into the world of Jesus, but do not want to leave behind the things of their world in order to obtain these things. They want easiness. That is why, when they find out that the way requires sacrifice, they go away, downcast, right back into their own world.

He explained that in a different way:

“Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” — Luke 17.33

Application: When Jesus proposes something to you that will turn your life upside down, accept the proposal. Actually, the end result will be you getting right side up.

Has Jesus ever turned your life “upside down”? Have you been hesitant to do what He asks of you for fear that it will not work? What do you think would have happened should that young man have done what Jesus told him? Leave your comment.