One of our challenges for 2015 is to learn and live
all 50
commands of Jesus. Jesus told us that following his commandments
is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John
15:9-12). In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make
disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us
(Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and living
one command of Jesus. Here is our command for this week...
Week 30:
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves,” (Matthew 10:16).
Application:
We have a book at home of Aesop’s fables. Aesop used animals to tell stories that drive
home a moral or a lesson, like his famous story, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Jesus also used animals to tell stories that
drove home a moral or a lesson. We find
an example in our command for this week.
To understand the moral or the lesson, it helps to
understand the context. Jesus was
sending his twelve disciples out on a mission to preach the Good news that the
kingdom of heaven is near, to drive out evil, to heal the sick, to raise the
deal, and to cleanse those who had leprosy.
It was a big mission, and Jesus warned that they would have
opposition. Satan would not be happy
that they were advancing God’s kingdom and would fight back. Not everyone would be receptive to their
message. Many would be outright hostile.
In essence, they would be like sheep among wolves. Aesop wrote many fables about wolves
attacking sheep. To say you are like “sheep
among wolves,” is like saying that you are going into a dangerous environment
where you will be attacked. Jesus’
followers need to approach God's mission with care. Jesus used two more animals to make this point. Jesus said to be as wise as
serpents and as innocent as doves.
I find it fascinating that Jesus would encourage us to be
“wise as serpents.” Can you think of another
serpent in the Bible? How about the
serpent that tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of
Eden? The serpent is typically thought
of in connection with Satan, who tempts people away from God and destroys their
lives. It confused me that Jesus would
tell his followers to be wise as serpents.
But then I thought about another book called “The Screwtape Letters” by
C.S. Lewis. The fictional book is a series of
letters from one demon to another, revealing their tricks and their traps for
God’s people. Lewis helps us to think
like a demon so that we can defeat the plots of the evil one. It is a brilliant work of art. In the same way, Jesus is challenging us to
be wise, to anticipate how Satan will try to trick and trap us, so that we can
avoid, thwart, and defeat his evil plans against us.
Part 1 of the challenge this week is to think like a
demon … really! If you have not read “The
Screwtape Letters,” I would encourage you to do that. It is a short book and will not take long to
read. Until you can read it, here are
eight ways you can think like a demon:
1)
Satan will try to get you to focus on the size
of your fears rather than the size of your God.
2)
Satan will try to make you dwell on your doubts more than on your reasons to believe.
3)
Satan will try to get you to focus on what you
want now rather than on what you want most.
4)
Satan will try to make you think of yourself
more than others or God.
5)
Satan will try to get you to focus on what you
do not have rather than on all you do have.
6)
Satan will try to distract you with “good”
things so you miss out on “God” things.
7)
Satan will give you every excuse in the world
why not to do something God calls you to do.
8) Satan will give you every justification in the
book why you should do something God calls you not to do.
Thinking like a demon can help us be wise in how we avoid,
thwart, and defeat Satan’s evil plans against us. But we cannot stop there. No!
The other part is just as good. Jesus
says to be as innocent as a dove.
This is just as fascinating. Can you think of another dove mentioned in
the Bible? How about the Spirit
descending like a dove on Jesus in his baptism?
When we enter into God’s family and God’s mission, God sends his Spirit
to live inside of us (1 Cor. 3:16). The
fruit of God’s Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. We can
live like doves because God sent his dove, his Holy Spirit, to live in us. The same power that conquered the grave lives
in us (Romans 8:11)!
I like how the apostle Paul articulated the practical
application of this Good News. He
regularly encouraged believers to “live by the Spirit” or to “keep in step with
the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:25). We are to
follow God’s leading and rely on God’s power to accomplish God’s mission in
the world. Part 2 of our challenge,
then, is to live by the Spirit.
So, altogether, our challenge for this week is to think
like a demon and live by the Spirit. Ready,
go!
Share your comments and application ideas…
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