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Matthew 10:16 says, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and HARMLESS as doves." This is an interesting bit of scripture because it appears that Jesus is leading His flock of believers and trusted disciples into almost certain destruction. Sheep are a natural prey item for wolves and have been for centuries and this most assuredly would have been known by Jesus. This starts out rocky but just when it seems dangerous and impossible we find that the Lord is really talking about the power of the regeneration of the mind and the divinely imparted ability to command a pre-existent nature to come into being in your life simply by allowing God to change your way of operation.
The shell of the sheep was set in stone and does not have any need of change because God will use the current physical design to accomplish great things but note that Christ says "Be ye therefore", which is an open declaration that a door of revelation and receiving was open to His followers so that they could actually become, in nature, multi dimensional beings who were able to use the foolish things of this world for their individual kingdom purpose. Jesus was not preparing His disciples to be slaughtered; He was preparing them to thrive in a time when they would not have many physical assets and even fewer friends that they could trust. Food would be short and the government would use them as scapegoats. Even their own religious leaders would turn against them and call them heretics and worshippers of a false God. He was preparing them to be able to protect themselves and navigate in an evil world while still maintaining the integrity of a kingdom citizen. Jesus openly declared that he was the Son of God and for nearly three years men of power and social gravity sought to stone him and even held council with the highest religious authorities to bring charges against him. They failed.
Jesus was in the middle of an angry mob that had come on one accord that they would kill Jesus right there but He used their frenzy and disorder and walked through them cloaked and disguised. This wasn't supernatural it was simply a brilliant understanding of human nature and the characteristics of chaos. A serpent who is trying to escape does not hiss or make noise he simply glides through the nearest opening until he is free of harm. Jesus had to live because he had a mission of human salvation to carry out and simply could not die before His time. He simply walked through a hole that was made by his confidence and His attitude. The crowd was seeking someone but didn't see who and Jesus was skilled at being inconspicuous. This is a kingdom trait that must be valued more highly because most people believe that being a committed Christian is about flying the blood stained cross and wearing WWJD on our shirts. When Jesus said "and harmless as a dove" it was clear that he was talking at first about surviving in a world where you will have to use your wits and be ready to make your escape as the serpent does. Even to attack the wily serpent never leaves himself exposed no matter what the gain. He is not afraid of dying but he didn't wake up in the morning to do that. We have to prepare to live and not die because of the mission of the Commission. He then shifts and says "be harmless as a dove" which is the very essence of the true purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are the recipients of enormous power and privilege and the role of the believer is as messenger and brother. We are not rabble rousers and trouble makers. The dove is the secret weapon that is hidden in the earth and is wrapped in a package that will astound the world. It is the love of God and the power of His mercy that is exposed in the nature of the dove. He means us no harm. Just when the wolf was sure that he had the upper hand, the sheep began to show a nature and an aptitude for survival and defense that is peculiar to sheep. The wolf will be momentarily stunned by this reversal because he is not the most cunning in the room but this won't stop him. Just when he believes that he has figured you out you break out the offense and show him love. The serpent was not lying in wait to strike but was actually living so that the waiting dove could rescue the wolf from his nature. We are sent to wade in the muck and mire because our brothers are trapped there. We are sent into the wolf dens not because some wolves are holding the world hostage but because our brothers have taken on the nature of the beast and actually believe they are wolves.
We have one weapon to turn this perverted and transfigured world and that is the love of Christ. Let your light shine because God is sending us out to light the pathway for someone to come home.
