Handling Wolves

God says all through his word that we are “like” sheep. The study of these woolley animals is very interesting. Especially, when you start to see the similarities in your own life.

I recall as a little child, my grandmother would take my cousin and I to church with her every Sunday. She was a multitasking “ball of fire” for Jesus. She was the choir director, organist and pianist for her beloved, Pine Street Methodist Church in her hometown of Dalhart, Texas.

I remember a photo hanging in my Sunday School classroom. A beautiful picture of Jesus carrying a lamb around his shoulders. That little guy obviously needed help if Jesus had to carry him on his shoulders! Keeping that in mind, I read the scripture in Matthew 10:16. What? Once that little lamb matured to a full grown sheep, it was going to be sent into the midst of wolves? Not a good place to be sent. We remember that sheep are pretty much defenseless without the shepherd.

Jesus was preparing his disciples to go out into a world that would often times despise them. They were going to go without their shepherd. A place of wolves. He was preparing to leave them. Not alone, as He was going to send the comforter, the Holy Spirit to minister to them but physically he would soon not be before them to guide and counsel them in person.

Jesus advised them to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The serpent has represented so much evil in scripture. After all, it was a serpent who came into the Garden of Eden and had a visit with Eve that would end in Adam and Eve being put out of paradise and into the world of “wolves”. That he would suggest they be wise as serpents is very interesting. I researched some characteristics of serpents or snakes as we call them. One of their characteristics and one that perhaps we should take to heart is their slyness. We should not use that in a bad way but in such a way as to keep us from harm in this world of wolves. They move about with subtlety, carefully with a wise eye to harm and can strike in a split second. That trait by itself is a dangerous one and not one that Jesus would want the believer to have alone.

The dove represents the Holy Spirit, goodness, innocence and purity. Some might say, so innocent as to not be able to defend itself in a world of danger. So that characteristic by itself would leave the believer in a doomed situation among wolves.

To walk in a world of wolves would require the believer to be subtle and move carefully, with the eye of wisdom, so as not to be hurt but to have kindness and purity so that we do not hurt others.

Here is what I am taking from this scripture:

First, we should never go out without armor (Ephesians 6:10-17). That is not mentioned in the scripture today, but is a given for any believer.

Second, we should be subtle as a snake moving through dangerous territory.

Third, we should have the innocence, purity and goodness of a dove.

You are equipped to go out into a world of wolves if you are covered with the armor God provides, walking carefully, always watching that you do not let the ways and dangers of the world invade your life and bring harm to you and at the same time being kind with an innocence that does not desire to bring hurt or injury to others.

Scripture for Today:

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Prayer for Today:

Hello Father! Father, it is hard to realize that we live in a continuously harmful environment as unprotected as sheep among wolves. Yet, You have given us all that we need to keep ourselves from harm and in that strength also restrain ourselves from bringing harm to others. Such a combination of strength and meekness! Your Son had those same qualities. We could say then, in this world we live, to be just like Jesus should be our goal. Thank you for your love, your protection and your word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.