When we read the history of the early church, we quickly discover the truth of Jesus’ words to His followers:
“I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This is a summary statement that will be filled out in more detail as Jesus talks to His followers.
If you think back to the 23rd Psalm, you will recall that the most powerful king to rule over Israel said this about himself: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
In the same Psalm, David recognized the perilous position God’s servants face: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5).
There are three basic forces that oppose God’s purposes and, by association, God’s people. They are: the world’s system, the flesh, and the devil. These are the “wolves” that seek to harm God’s purposes and His followers.
John warned followers of Jesus not to form an alliance with the world’s system:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:15-16).
The reason why we are not to love the world’s system is because of the evil one who controls it: “We know that we are God’s children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).
Another opposing force to God’s purposes is described in the New Testament as the “flesh.” When we live apart from a relationship of trust with God and assume control of our own lives, we are living in the flesh.
The difference is between living according to our plans and power (the flesh) as opposed to being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want” (Galatians 5:17).
As sheep, who desire no other shepherd than the Lord, we are faced with these three wolves: the world’s system, our inclination to go it alone without the Holy Spirit, and the devil.
Wisdom Needed
Recognizing that we are surrounded by formidable enemies, Jesus counsels us to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
Later in His talk with the disciples, Jesus gave this statement about the opposition they should expect. Within His words is an excellent thought on where to obtain the wisdom we need to be victorious over the wolves:
“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!” (Matthew 10:24-25).
Immediately after His baptism, Jesus met His first opponent. The devil attempted to get Jesus to follow his direction, rather than the Father’s guidance (Matthew 4:1-11). Later in His Galilean ministry, religious authorities began to oppose what God was doing through Jesus (Matthew 9:2-13).
An old preacher was right when he said, “If you didn’t meet the devil today, it was because you were walking in the same direction.” Just as the devil fought against Jesus, he will fight us if we are walking with Him.
Paul highlighted the issue we have with the flesh when he wrote, “For I know that the good does not dwell within me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do the good lies close at hand, but not the ability” (Romans 7:18).
Where do we get the wisdom to be victorious over these wolves? Jesus said, “It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master” (Matthew 10:24).
I remember praying through this passage and being struck by the phrase, “It is enough.” I thought about how it is infinitely better than simply being “enough.” The greatest opportunity of all is to be like Jesus. Even if we become like Him to a very small degree, it remains God’s great gift to us.
Jesus was the wisest person to walk the earth. The more we become like Him, the greater our wisdom will be. Like John and Paul, we will see through the seduction of the world’s system and the desires of the flesh. We will depend on the power and direction of the Holy Spirit to a greater degree.
The best gift we can give ourselves is to not be complacent or cynical about our walk with the Lord. Let’s use the Spirit’s wisdom to overcome the attack of the wolves by increasingly becoming like Jesus.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 