“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Jesus, Matthew 10:16
How do we combine the shrewdness of snakes with the innocence of doves? It sounds a bit contradictory, but it's not.
It's similar to the meaning of Colossians 4:6:
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
We must share our faith graciously, but we must never avoid the "salt" of gospel truth, answering everyone as God's Spirit leads us. We neither compromise the truth nor share it unkindly.
Jesus takes this concept further by combining Spirit-led shrewdness with innocence. He wants us to be clever without compromising our integrity.
This won't prevent all persecution as explained in 1 Peter 2:19-21, but it will keep us from causing persecution due to dishonesty or rudeness.
Wednesday's devotion will share a negative example of this truth.
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Bible Love Notes
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