Serpents & Doves…

In Matthew 10:5-15, Jesus is found equipping and briefing the apostles to serve Him by going to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (V6). I wonder if the “lost sheep” would have agreed to that title?

But then (in V16) Jesus scares His disciples by portraying a caricature of them, not sheep amongst other lost sheep, but rather sheep in the midst of wolves. No warm-fuzzies there…

Jesus prescribes the way to live in the second part of the verse…”be wise as serpents and innocent [gentle] as doves“. Here lies the crux: to operate in a life that has great value, calling, and glory – but it is not always easy…like a sheep in a pack of wolves. To operate knowing the Enemy, but utilizing the great & costly grace of the Lord at the end of the day. We should live our lives with the grace and mercy of Jesus, so that we can go to sleep easy at night. Be tactical in wisdom-filled thought, because we have asked God in faith for it (James 1:5-6); but at the same time dealing and talking with people with such measures of grace, wisdom, and gentleness knowing that vengeance (reckoning) ultimately belongs to God.

I like how Hebrews 12:14 puts it “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”. Live deliberately, yet live in the innocence of gentleness…even if “sheep” are acting like wolves. Let’s face it, the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20)!

ScottC