Sheep Among Wolves

"Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves. Because people will hand you over........ but when they hand you over, don't worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, bu the Spirit of your father is speaking through you." Matthew 10:16-20

Isn't it amazing that the shepherd is sending sheep into the midst of wolves? What does He know? Is it that we have a protector, a shield, a guide, a comforter? Jesus instructs us to be wise as serpents. Serpents know how to disappear from danger, they are quick.

We are also to be as innocent as doves. A dove does not have the power to retaliate that a serpent has. Keeping a 'dove heart' is a real challenge as we employ the parts of a serpent that help us avoid danger, we forget to lay aside the striking nature of the serpent.

A dove has to rely on a protector, a voice that will stand before opposition. Recently I have been made aware how much junk that we collect in our spiritual pores over the years. So much disappointment, so much hurt, so much offense. It all accumulates unless we know how to let it go.

A dove heart is simple, so simple and so gentle. It is so far removed from the snake nature of retaliation. Yet a dove without the wisdom of a snake is open for abuse unnecessarily. To find this wisdom we have to seek the Lord and wait on Him.

The Jesus portrayed in the gospel of Matthew was simple yet wise. Uncluttered, unfettered but very wise and knew where He was from and who He was and He walked in that knowledge and strength.

Oh for that simplicity, purity of heart, freedom of spirit. Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Who Rules?

The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers, I will pout out my fury on them like water. Hosea 5:10 World leaders of church and state are now all highly visible. When they are not open to consultation or do not listen they make judgements that are judged as foolish by both God and man. In Australia we just celebrated Australia Day and at this time various people are honoured for their contribution to society. Our Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, without consultation, conferred a knighthood on the Queen of England's husband, Phillip. Almost to a person, Australians judged this to be foolish. Even supporters have now distanced themselves. Imagine what it is like when church leaders follow their own emotions or the emotions of their people and change what is acceptable to God. For example, no longer considering adultery something that precludes a man from ministry. We might think we are clever, but actually going with a sinful flow. Where is God in all this? My emotions ar...
Read more

Know Your Sword!

So he took Him to Jerusalem, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "if you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: 'He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect you, they will support You with their hands, so that you will not strike Your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered him, "it is said: 'do not test The Lord your God." And the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. Luke 4:9-11 In this third test Satan quoted scripture but Jesus knew His scripture and was not going to be deceived by his enemy twisting the truth. I am amazed at what Satan tempted Jesus with. He did not know Christ. He had succeeded in tempting the first Adam yet he was thwarted in this attempt. Jesus had lived 30 years and been tutored in godliness with contentment, he was prepared, baptised in the Spirit and sold out to the Father's purpose. Every time our enemy comes against us we ...
Read more

Little Things Grow

The boy's mother said to Elisha, "as The Lord lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you. So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 The Shunamite woman had travelled to Mt Carmel to find Elisha after the death of her son. Although Elisha had sent his servant Gehazi to the boy with his staff the woman had come to find Elisha and was not leaving without him. I like this lady's spirit. I am sure The Lord God Almighty also valued her heart. She had a heart for God and made room for Him in her world. Now, having lost her son she knew what to do: find Elisha and not let him go until he came to restore her son. What made the Shunamite woman believe that Elisha could raise her son? Was it the same faith that made her provide him a place to stay in her home? I believe it was God working in her life. I am grateful for her faith, I can read and be encouraged. We do not know her name yet her story lives in scripture. What a little thing it was to feed Elisha and then provide ...
Read more