Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Jesus gave this go mandate to the 12 apostles. They would be given authority to heal the sick, cast out demons and proclaim the gospel with boldness. You would think that men of such kind would be embraced and welcomed with open arms, wouldn’t you? Not so. Fallen man is blinded by the god of this world. Fallen man calls good evil and evil good. Fallen man refuses to accept the Jesus of Scripture. They invent a Jesus after their own base imaginations and likeness. Yet, the grace of God commands those who are His children to go forth every day as sheep in the midst of wolves, as people who are harmless as doves. Neither sheep nor doves are very intimidating, are they?
But when sheep and doves are anointed by The Spirit of God and speaking the truth in love, they are considered to be a threat to fallen man’s ways of thinking and liberal ways of living. Thus, the only natural response of fallen man to the message and messengers of God’s truth is attack, persecute, belittle. They did it to Jesus, and they will do it to you, beloved. All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Paul’s admonition to the saints in Rome was, “For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” (Romans 16:19) His exhortation to the church at Phillipi was: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15)
Simply love Jesus. Live for Jesus. Love souls. The singular response to all the evils in the world is the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether they want to hear it or not. Selah.
