FOLLOW JESUS’ INSTRUCTIONS

_“... Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”(Matthew 10: 16)_

Here, Jesus instructed His disciples how to do the ministry.  He warned them that they were being sent out “like sheep among wolves”. The world then as now  was hostile to believers - not incidentally hostile, but purposefully hostile.  So then how can we do the kingdom work effectively in this world?  Jesus taught the disciples that to be Christ like in a godless world, they must combine the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove.  Most people don’t mind having their character compared to the dove’s purity and innocence.  But some recoil at the image of a serpent.  When Jesus told the disciples to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves, He laid down a general principle about the technique of kingdom work.  As we take the gospel to the hostile world, we must be wise, avoiding the snares set for us, and we must be innocent serving the Lord blamelessly.  Let us take Jesus as example. He was harmless as a dove in every circumstance.  He lived a pure and holy life.  He acted in compassion and He challenged anyone to find fault in Him.  Three times Pilate judged Jesus to be innocent. (John 18: 38, 19: 4,6).  He was gentle, but was He always gentle?  No.  When the occasion demanded it, He took whip in His hand and chased the moneychangers out of the Temple. (John 2: 15)  The “dove-like” Man of innocence spoke loudly and clearly with His assertiveness in the Temple. Jesus also showed that He was as wise as a serpent in the way He taught.  He knew to discern the differences in His audiences and He refused to be caught in the many traps that His enemies laid for Him.

Dear friends, successful Christian living requires that we strike the optimal balance between the dove and the serpent.  We should strive to be gentle without being forceful and we must be sacrificial without being taken advantage of.  We are aware of the unscrupulous tactics used by the enemy, but let us not be trapped.  Let us live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse us of doing wrong, they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visit us.

*PRAYER* :   Lord, thank You for showing me that the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove are very desirable to be combined in my character.  It is only by such union that I will be able to cope up successfully with my powerful enemies.  Give me Your grace to live so.  Amen.