Matthew 10:16-23
16 "Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning
you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call
attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. 17
"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear
your reputation-- just because you believe in me. 18 Don't be upset when they
haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you--
and me-- a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! 19 And
don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be
there; 20 the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. 21" When people
realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes
them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family.
22 There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much
hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. 23 It
is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before
you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
Food for the soul!
What is it that you get from this Jesus' training? What is
it that Jesus is telling his chosen people of yesterday and today, you and me,
if not that life is not meant to be easy? That life and living is hard even for
those that Jesus has chosen.
Jesus is training his people for THE WAY LIFE IS. Jesus is saying that life is just as insecure as sheep running through a wolf pack.
In his training Jesus is also saying that GOD IS IN CHARGE. However, God being in charge does not mean a suspension of THE WAY LIFE IS. The lion or crocodile will always eat meat, even of humans. God will not change that. Women will always feel pain in child birth. God will not change that. We will always feel sad when our dear ones die. God will not change that because this is THE WAY LIFE IS, the way God made life to be.
God's care is not to be seen as rescue FROM the way life is. It is rather guidance THROUGH the way life is. God does not save us from getting into trouble, He empowers us to go through trouble: "Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you and me a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words."
For that reason, continues Jesus, we can't be naive nor take things for granted. We have to stay alert 24/7, like sheep running through a wolf pack. Such sheep can't call attention to themselves, other wise they are eaten; imagine yourself going through a park of lions or crocodiles... you would not call attention to yourself, but would have to be as cunning (discreet) as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. This is how Jesus wants us to live this life, 24/7.
Jesus is training his people for THE WAY LIFE IS. Jesus is saying that life is just as insecure as sheep running through a wolf pack.
In his training Jesus is also saying that GOD IS IN CHARGE. However, God being in charge does not mean a suspension of THE WAY LIFE IS. The lion or crocodile will always eat meat, even of humans. God will not change that. Women will always feel pain in child birth. God will not change that. We will always feel sad when our dear ones die. God will not change that because this is THE WAY LIFE IS, the way God made life to be.
God's care is not to be seen as rescue FROM the way life is. It is rather guidance THROUGH the way life is. God does not save us from getting into trouble, He empowers us to go through trouble: "Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you and me a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words."
For that reason, continues Jesus, we can't be naive nor take things for granted. We have to stay alert 24/7, like sheep running through a wolf pack. Such sheep can't call attention to themselves, other wise they are eaten; imagine yourself going through a park of lions or crocodiles... you would not call attention to yourself, but would have to be as cunning (discreet) as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. This is how Jesus wants us to live this life, 24/7.
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