Theme: BE YE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES
Text: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” – Matthew 10:16.
Comment: In the text for today, our Lord Jesus Christ acknowledged the fact that his disciples are like “sheep in the midst of wolves”. This means that they would be faced with difficult, tempting and hostile environments or situations. The Bible says: “You may as well know this too…, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian.” – 2 Timothy 3:1, Living Bible.
Therefore, Jesus Christ used the serpent and the dove to teach us how we ought to behave in the midst of this evil world. Serpents have always been an emblem of wisdom. It is said that no animal equals them in the rapidity and skill with which they attack and escape danger. On the other hand, doves are symbols of peace, innocence and harmlessness. While being peaceful, innocent and harmless like doves, we should apply wisdom, discretion and be spiritually alert to the dangers that surround us. Christians should endeavour to apply this godly principle taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in order to serve God acceptably in this evil world. Apostle Paul exhorts: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” – Philippians 2:15.