Get Out of the Box

Matthew 10:11-16

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010:11-16&version=NIV)

As I thought about these verses I began to wonder what Jesus meant by these instructions and what it means for us today.  As I thought about that I thought of how we ourselves need to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and His saving power.  So many times we get stuck in our own home town and we forget to reach out beyond its borders and even beyond the walls we build within our community.  Jesus was having His apostles go outside of their box and do extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God.  So, I believe the first thing we can learn is to get out of our box and begin to reach beyond the comfort zone, just as Jesus asked His apostles to do.

Next of all I looked at how we should respond to those that come our way.  I have some different beliefs than do some that try to come calling at my door.  Many of them probably think that I am not receptive of their teachings which I am not.  But, how do I treat them?  Do I treat them with respect and send them on their way?  Yes, generally that is what I do but sometimes I must admit that I get a little frustrated when they call.  I may even go into another room until they walk away.  I do so much want to share my perspective with them but know they won’t convince me and I think I won’t convince them.  I spent several hours on the phone with a leader of such a group of people with whom I did not embrace their theology with every belief or Bible verse he threw at me I responded with one that contradicted what he was saying.  Much like Jesus and His conversation with satan in the desert.  I believe it was the same way in the days of Jesus when the disciples were sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Many Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, that their Messiah had come and sadly many still don’t believe.  These are the people Jesus is telling His apostles to spread the Gospel to yet they do not believe.  Jesus is asking them to make the attempt.  If they do not believe it is no longer on them, they did as He asked them to do.  He is asking the same of us.  Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ but don’t get bogged down in rejection, just move on to the next neighbor and share your faith. 

Now the last part I was really confused on and always have been.  I am not a theologian but these are my thoughts regarding being shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.  Why would Jesus use that as an illustration as to how we should act?  I think of being shrewd as being deceptive, like satan was in the Garden with Eve or even how he was with Jesus in the desert.  Let’s just think about that for just a minute.  Satan knew God’s words and he used them to make a point but he added his own little twist to them.  I think Jesus wants us to know God’s word and to use those words to share with others, however, unlike satan/serpent He does not want us to be deceptive.  The snake is a very crafty character, one that knows how to go in for the kill of an animal that is larger than they themselves, some can curl up and puff themselves up to where it is difficult to pick them up and there are those that can blend in with the environment that surrounds them to be protected.   I believe Jesus wanted His disciples to have those characteristics that would allow them to get into some very difficult places and to share His words with others.  After all He did say that they were sheep that were being sent into the world amongst wolves.  He did not however want them to be deceptive and that is why He said they needed to be as innocent as doves.  Now, I don’t know how innocent doves are but they were/are a symbol of peace.  Remember, God descended on His son and claimed Jesus as His son after Jesus came out of the water when John baptized Him.  I believe He was saying to His disciples and to us today that we need to be peaceable, truthful and without blemish in order to share the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Act the way you know God would want you to act.

Check point:

Ask yourself . . .

How am I doing at spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ?

How am I portraying Christ through my life?

How do I do at honoring those who bring the Good News?

How do I react to those with whom I disagree?

Some of those questions are really difficult to answer.  In this world there will be those who deceive, those who don’t practice what they preach, and those who dishonor God by their actions.  Much like the Jews, they refuse to hear the Gospel and recognize it as the true Word of God or they plainly think they know it all and don’t need to hear it.  Don’t be deceived and don’t be the deceiver.  Seek God and know Him with your whole heart and share that knowledge of Him with others.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila