JESUS SPEAKING
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and as harmless (innocent) as doves” (Mathew 10: 16.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Those who accept the Holy Spirit and forsake evil are cleansed of all unrighteousness. They are made pure; the innocence that was lost through sin is finally restored (the sons and daughters of God are reborn as doves; lacking evil intentions and immoral hearts.) Unlike natural born children whose innocence is accompanied by ignorance, the ‘reborn’ child of God retains the knowledge of good and evil. In the heart of every believer, innocence and wisdom exist in harmony. The serpent is a creature that symbolizes wisdom. In Genesis, God created the serpent to be the wisest of all the animals (Satan himself took the form of a serpent when he cleverly convinced Adam and Eve to disobey God.) Characteristically, snakes are rarely caught off guard; they patiently wait for opportunities to strike; and they always keep their eyes on potential predators. In a world filled with evil, God’s eternal offspring must apply comparable wisdom to avoid destruction. Like the serpent, believers must see hungry predators as they approach and turn to face them. How can we be kind and loving toward these predators while at the same time making sure we don’t get eaten is by them? To be both a dove and a serpent can be a difficult task that demands discipline and divine guidance.
A couple of years ago a man entered the coffee shop I frequent; it was late in the evening and there were very few customers; he was a peculiar man dressed in work out clothing. He spoke in broken English and began to draw attention to himself by flirting with the workers behind the register. When the workers were distracted, the man leaned over the counter and pulled some money out of the tip jar (quickly concealing it.) Immediately I rose up and approached the counter. The man turned around and was greeted with a stern look. “Put it back,” I said. “I’m so sorry” he replied; admitting to his actions, he returned the money and begged for forgiveness. He claimed to be starving and in desperate need of money (possibly true; possibly a lie.) I told him that what he really needed was Jesus. I offered to help him so he didn’t have to steal. I gave him money from my ATM and a bible from my car; he gratefully received them and went his way. God had given me the wisdom to recognize evil in action. Like a serpent I was able to expose and oppose a predator. Like a dove I avoided harming the man; instead I loved and cared for him according to the will of God.
God has called every follower to be wise; the child of God is able to recognize and oppose evil. The believer must also be harmless; showing love and kindness to those who oppose what is good. The wicked despise God’s children; they seek to destroy, to pervert, and to devour the faithful; but the faithful seek to build up, to love, and to convert the wicked. Walk wisely in the ways of God, and reach out to the lost; His Spirit will shine through you; you will bring hope to the hopeless; you will lead the blind to freedom; submit yourself to the call of God, and become a messenger of light in a very dark world.
“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to avoid being harmed by evil while also opposing it. May we be kind to those who walk in darkness; employ us to love the wicked. May Your light shine brightly through us in this dark world. Use us to direct others away from destruction and toward eternal life. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 