Our paragraph topic is: (Opposition foretold) Part 2.
Christ has told his disciples about the ravenous attitude of the enemy. They are like wolves and he is sending them among them. He wants them to appear as sheep. He wants them to be disguised so that the enemy will not recognize them. He wants them to have an advantage. The enemy knows Christ. They can spot him from far off. His spirit is the light of the world. But the disciples are just beginning to obtain their light and it does not shine as brightly as the light of Christ. So he is instructing his disciples on how to appear before the enemy. He tells his disciples, "Be therefore wise as serpents."
Now serpents are cunning creatures. They slither on the ground with amazing swiftness and they strike with lightning speed, delivering a venom that is deadly to humans. But the important thing about serpents is that you seldom see them. You may walk upon one in the wild, not having any indication of its presence. You may walk past one not knowing that it is there, hidden under a log or a bush. You may even step on one, at which time you will feel its presence in a bite. But most serpents seldom just stroll around in the open to be discovered by humans. To find a snake you have to go hunt for them. Their amazing senses alert them to oncoming danger and gives them an advantage to seeking their pray.
So Christ in telling his disciples to be wise as serpents. He is telling them to consider the serpent and keep themselves hidden. He wants them to proclaim the kingdom of heaven but he wants them to not do so that it attracks so much attention that they are discovered. Do not go out and seek to be the next rock star. Do not go out and seek to be the next American Idol. Consider the serpent. He keeps himself hidden, either purposely through the use of his senses or through camouflage. The mission of the disciple is not one of fame and fortune. It is one of camouflage and battle, detection and advantage. Be wise as serpents!!
Christ also tells his disciples, "Be therefore guileless as doves." He wants his disciples to be straighforward, frank, and without deception. Doves are harmless creatures. They are creatures that envoke love. So Christ instructs his disciples to be the same as doves, sincere, honest, and without cunning. Their mission is not to deceive the people. Their mission is one of love and peace. They bring the good news of the kingdom of heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They are to gather, not to scatter. They are to love, not to hate. They are to bring life, not to destroy. The come to restore hope in the Lord God Jehovah.
The enemy is watching. The enemy is waiting. The enemy will seek to turn them around. The enemy will fight to maintain their stronghold on the people. But the disciples have been trained and are ready to do battle. We live in a society today where cunning and deception are accepted traits. Can you be wise as a serpent and guiless as a dove for Christ?
Christ has told his disciples about the ravenous attitude of the enemy. They are like wolves and he is sending them among them. He wants them to appear as sheep. He wants them to be disguised so that the enemy will not recognize them. He wants them to have an advantage. The enemy knows Christ. They can spot him from far off. His spirit is the light of the world. But the disciples are just beginning to obtain their light and it does not shine as brightly as the light of Christ. So he is instructing his disciples on how to appear before the enemy. He tells his disciples, "Be therefore wise as serpents."
Now serpents are cunning creatures. They slither on the ground with amazing swiftness and they strike with lightning speed, delivering a venom that is deadly to humans. But the important thing about serpents is that you seldom see them. You may walk upon one in the wild, not having any indication of its presence. You may walk past one not knowing that it is there, hidden under a log or a bush. You may even step on one, at which time you will feel its presence in a bite. But most serpents seldom just stroll around in the open to be discovered by humans. To find a snake you have to go hunt for them. Their amazing senses alert them to oncoming danger and gives them an advantage to seeking their pray.
So Christ in telling his disciples to be wise as serpents. He is telling them to consider the serpent and keep themselves hidden. He wants them to proclaim the kingdom of heaven but he wants them to not do so that it attracks so much attention that they are discovered. Do not go out and seek to be the next rock star. Do not go out and seek to be the next American Idol. Consider the serpent. He keeps himself hidden, either purposely through the use of his senses or through camouflage. The mission of the disciple is not one of fame and fortune. It is one of camouflage and battle, detection and advantage. Be wise as serpents!!
Christ also tells his disciples, "Be therefore guileless as doves." He wants his disciples to be straighforward, frank, and without deception. Doves are harmless creatures. They are creatures that envoke love. So Christ instructs his disciples to be the same as doves, sincere, honest, and without cunning. Their mission is not to deceive the people. Their mission is one of love and peace. They bring the good news of the kingdom of heaven to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They are to gather, not to scatter. They are to love, not to hate. They are to bring life, not to destroy. The come to restore hope in the Lord God Jehovah.
The enemy is watching. The enemy is waiting. The enemy will seek to turn them around. The enemy will fight to maintain their stronghold on the people. But the disciples have been trained and are ready to do battle. We live in a society today where cunning and deception are accepted traits. Can you be wise as a serpent and guiless as a dove for Christ?
