“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.” Matthew 10:16-17
When Jesus chose the 12 apostles and sent them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom, He told them He was sending them out as sheep amid wolves, meaning they would encounter opposition and persecution — being delivered up to councils and scourged in synagogues. Jesus told them to exercise the wisdom of serpents but to be harmless as doves — to avoid unnecessary exposure to such persecution but, at the same time, to be as innocent and harmless as doves. Today, too, those who follow Jesus and share His Word will encounter persecution from the world and from erring churches and their leaders. Believers are to be wise and not seek to stir up opposition and persecution but to be honest and faultless in presenting the truth.
Give me wisdom, O God, to avoid needless confrontation with the world and erring churches, but keep me faithful and uncompromising in my witness to the truth of Your Word, calling upon all to repent of their sinful and erring ways and to look to Jesus and His cross in faith for pardon and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]