When you first read Matthew 10:16 you might say, ‘Ewww! God wants us to be like a serpent? Aren’t serpents and snakes evil because of the Garden of Eden?’
No, snakes and serpents are not evil; they are a part of God’s creation. But because of the role they played in Genesis 3, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” Let’s be honest, serpents have it pretty rough. They have no arms or legs, they eat dust in order to smell, they have horrible eye sight and hearing, they get stepped on all the time by people and other animals, and they are always cast as villains in movies!
Because of their present circumstances, snakes have been forced to cultivate wariness and wisdom in their day to day lives. Snakes will always enter a new environment tentatively, keeping to the outskirts as they assess their surroundings, never rushing into a decision or situation. They trust their instincts over their senses because they know that they are always vulnerable to danger, especially when they are eating or shedding their skin. Every choice that they make, and its timing, is potentially life altering and bares a great weight. That is why they are very cautious and particular about how they conduct themselves… daily.
How do WE conduct ourselves daily? Do we blindly and carelessly rush into situations and conversation at school, at work, or online? Do we think about our actions and words before we act or speak? Do we weigh first the possible consequences of our decisions and their timing before we choose a course? Each choice that we make in life, from who we choose to spend time with to what we allow into our eye gates and ear gates, is potentially life altering to us in both the natural and in the spirit!
God wants us to use wisdom as we are led daily by His Holy Spirit. Wisdom comes from spending time with God, in prayer and His Word! Wisdom is necessary in order to know the schemes of the enemy, and to learn to be on guard and wary of the dangers in this world that would try and step on and crush the plans and purpose that God has for our lives!
God wants us to use wisdom as we are led daily by His Holy Spirit. Wisdom comes from spending time with God, in prayer and His Word!
Like Solomon in 2 Chronicles 1:7-13, ask God for wisdom above all else and He will be faithful to give you that and more in order to accomplish all that He has planned for you to do!
Fight the good fight of faith!
Jamie
