Scripture

Vs 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

VS 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,

VS 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

Observation

Jesus sends his apostles out to the fellow Jews with specific instructions …

Behold …

Be wise …

Beware …

Bear witness …

Application

Behold:

Everything starts with acknowledging the wonder and awe of who God is.

If I am not beholding who God is in the good times,

I will certainly abandon him in the bad.

I must behold … stand in awe … of the glory of God.

Be wise:

Once I am steadfast in my beholding of God …

I must have the very thing Solomon asked for: Wisdom

And this comes from God also.

Jesus is sending his followers out.

In this sending out, I must be able to discern …

Who is friendly? Who is open to the message?

What is the wise thing to do based on my daily circumstances?

Beware:

While I should be in awe and steadily hopeful, it is not a Pollyannish hope …

I must beware, there are enemies of the faith.

And there are those who will wish bad on what is good.

I must beware,

Bear witness:

And in the midst of all this … I can bear witness!

With the sprit in me I can bear witness

Am I living my life as one who is “sent “?

Am I living my life in such a way that people would even question my faith … my greatest loyalty?

The current culture is one where sincere exercise of faith is questioned in the courts and the town square.

Am I shocked by this? I shouldn’t be! Jesus told us this would happen.

I also see an extraordinary amount of anxiousness at this happening throughout the country.

This also should not be.

Jesus also told us this would happen, and he specifically warned us not to be anxious!

Why would we be questioned and handed over by citizens and governments?

To bear His witness!

This is a good thing and a good opportunity!

Why should we cry out over the questioning?

We should be exhilarated at the opportunity to “seek first the kingdom of God”!

Why should we not be anxious when we are delivered over?

Because we have a great Deliverer!

Why should we not be anxious when bad things happen due to our faith?

Because we know the end of the story!

This is how we can be both wise and innocent at the same time.

Of course, there is tension in this, but I must rely on the Holy Spirit.

I am sent, but I am also delivered, and I am saved!

Prayer

Thank you again Father for your Word.

Thank you for the wisdom and the warning it gives me.

Help me Holy Spirit to live in a way that deserves question

But also to endure in a way that is faithful and peaceful and wise and innocent.

In Jesus name,

Amen.