Matthew 10:16 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 10:16 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Devotion
For all that we know about the attributes of sheep, given the choice I would rather be a wolf. It’s not even a contest.
Wolves have remarkable stealth, keen hearing and sensing, and are the contested best hunters in the wild. They have timing issues down pat. They show up in unexpected places. They wait until just the right moment. And they know how to work solo to get the job done.
Sheep, on the other hand, what do they do? They graze. They get scared. They are vulnerable and easy to catch … a relatively easy dinner on four legs.
Let someone else play the sheep, I want to be the wolf.
Yet Jesus sends us out as sheep, asking us to be the ones to proclaim his good news. He desires us to carry this valuable gift of grace in containers that can easily be caught and devoured. He wants us to go into the world of those who do not know him and in humility and availability, make known the greatest news the world has ever known, even though that may mean we get eaten by the wolves.
Ever feel so vulnerable that you might be one step away from being devoured? Welcome to being a Christ person.
Yet I confess, I would rather be a wolf.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, forgive us when we act like wolves. Send us into this wolf-filled world as vulnerable sheep, so that by our example, the world may see your care and compassion. And remind us that you are our shepherd, protecting and leading us, even when we are scared and lonely and lost. Amen.