*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*BE WISE AS SERPENTS....."*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Matt 10:16 *Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
All creations of God are good and profitable until they are used as a vessel of dishonor.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Jesus illustrates by His word in Matt 10:16 corroborating the word of God that all creations of God are good.
Gen 1:24-26 says *"..... living creature....and beasts of the earth and every thing that creepeth upon the earth...and God saw it was good"*, Gen 1:24-26.
Jesus admonished the twelve to be wise as the serpent and be harmless as the dove. Many have lost Kingdom privileges and lost than won souls to foolish and careless attitudes, Eph 5:1-6, Titus 3:9.
As bad as no one would want to be compared with the serpent, Paul says if a man will purge himself, he will be a vessel unto honor. In the same breath, Jesus had advocated earlier saying we be as a serpent itself at creation but not as Satan as the serpent.
The serpent can move smoothly, silently and gently undetected. It has a very sharp instinct detecting its prey from afar.
Jesus is saying as a soul winner, we should strive to be gentle.
We must know that animals are not moral entities.
They neither know good nor evil. They cannot by themselves commit sin.
Most times their strength, aggression, viciousness are an asset not a defect.
Jesus is telling us that no creation of God is bad until it is used as a vessel unto dishonor.
As the devil uses serpents so he does humans. There are demonically possessed animals (Gen 3:1, Luke 9:30-33) and people (Mark 5:1-20).
By telling the twelve to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves, He laid down a general principle about the technique of kingdom evangelical work and this is the quality, He wants His disciples of all ages to model..
The subsequent deception, subtilty associated to the serpent are perfect examples of how the devil can turn a once good vessel into a vessel of dishonor and destruction if the vessel does not purge himself of impurities.
If you obey as instructed, not being judgmental about the serpent, you will be *"......meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."*
*Remorse corner.*
To be able to achieve the wise saying of Jesus, we must not attach the evil actions of Satan (as the serpent) with the serpent itself.
*Call to Word action.*
2 Tim 2: 20 *If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
After the fall, every creature walked on either of two roads: honor or dishonor.
The Creator says if you adopt the nature of the serpent at creation, you will be wise and achieve much.
*Prayer.*
Lord help me to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day.
God bless you.