WISE AND HARMLESS
Matthew 10:16
" 'Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' "
How do I live in this world as a sheep among wolves? Wolves attack and fight and devour. Sheep are not fighters; they are harmless. My natural response to attack is to fight back. But God does not call me to fight wolves. Sheep do not have natural defenses, so they must rely on other resources, like staying in the middle of the flock near the shepherd for their protection. In fact, all of the armor of the Christian is defensive – the waist band of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith. Even the sword of the Word of God is defensive. The only offensive weapon is prayer (Ephesians 6:14-18), and even prayer is relying on the Shepherd for my defense. So God does not call me to fight with my own strength and brute force. Rather he calls me to respond intelligently with wisdom. This "wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). This is wise Christian living in the midst of wolves.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Christian's defense is not fighting but trusting the Shepherd.
[end]
Have a wise and harmless day. Love you.
Matthew 10:16
" 'Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' "
How do I live in this world as a sheep among wolves? Wolves attack and fight and devour. Sheep are not fighters; they are harmless. My natural response to attack is to fight back. But God does not call me to fight wolves. Sheep do not have natural defenses, so they must rely on other resources, like staying in the middle of the flock near the shepherd for their protection. In fact, all of the armor of the Christian is defensive – the waist band of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith. Even the sword of the Word of God is defensive. The only offensive weapon is prayer (Ephesians 6:14-18), and even prayer is relying on the Shepherd for my defense. So God does not call me to fight with my own strength and brute force. Rather he calls me to respond intelligently with wisdom. This "wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). This is wise Christian living in the midst of wolves.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Christian's defense is not fighting but trusting the Shepherd.
[end]
Have a wise and harmless day. Love you.
No comments:
Post a Comment