TOPIC: BE WISE AS SERPENTS
Scripture: Matthew 10: 16. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Beloved, I welcome you to another Moment of Daily Encounter! Today, we shall look at Our Lord Jesus Christ instructions on the subject of behavioural wisdom.
From Our anchor scripture (Matt.10:16), Jesus gave instructions to His disciples by saying “be ye therefore wise as serpents”!
In other words, the degree of your wisdom for behaviour should be likened to that of a serpent. This simply draws my attention to how a serpent behaves, that Jesus is saying we should be wise like them in behaviour? I thought, serpents are only known for evil, but a careful study reveals the following:
1. The serpent is very subtle(Gen. 3:1): This means the serpent is very clever, hard to notice and very skillful. This implies that every child of God must be smart, clever and skillful! To exist like a fool is to die like one! This was why David queried the death of Abner, king Saul chief of army staff:
2 Samuel 3: 33. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
Beloved, God forbid you dying like a fool! Hence He gave us wisdom of how to behave!
2. The serpent has the wisdom of moving into a new environment slowly unnoticed. They study the environment and know where to hide, where to get food and carefully blend with the environment with their cormourflag skin.
The wisdom here is don’t move into a new environment and be noisy about your mission because you will not last there if you are noisy.
Learn to be silent as you’re newly introduced to a place. Don’t come to a new department and try to show you know more than those who were there before you. Learn to hide your knowledge so that you can learn, if you show you already know nobody will teach you.
3. They know the right timing for every action and they plan before acting. There’s time for everything! There are times you will need to delay gratification! There are times to show appreciation. This is why the Bible said:
Ephesians 5: 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
This is wisdom, knowing what to do, how to do it, and going on to do it timely at the right time.
The world is evil, full of wickedness! The Bible said:
Psalm 74: 20. Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
Therefore we must learn how to behave not as fool, but as wise as serpent! You will not die the death of a fool in the name of Jesus.
Please understand that our assignment as Christian/ disciples on earth requires this wisdom (Matt.10:16): Jesus sent us into this world to make disciples for Him, and as such in making disciples, we require wisdom. According to our anchor scripture we are to be wise like serpents in discharging our duty!
The work of making discipleship begins with soul winning;
Proverbs 11: 30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Do you know it takes wisdom to win a soul for Christ? Many of us have been a Christian for many years but we are not soul winners because we lack wisdom for soul winning.
Beloved, your number way of bringing souls into the kingdom is via your character! Your character is more vocal than your preaching, this is why you must be well behaved. There are those who have chased souls into hell by their character. Do you know your behaviour can make someone to make up his mind for Christ? Then behave wisely.
Discipleship continues after the soul is won by maturing the soul into the full stature of Christ. It is at this point some disciples miss it! How can you permit yourself to be dragged down to the point of commiting sexual immorality with your convert? How can you use your hands to push the soul you have won back to hell because of lack of wisdom?
Remember this; Heaven is real and hell is real. The decision of where to spend is best made now.
Prayer points;
– Father thank you for your words to me today.
– Lord I ask for the wisdom to be as wise as serpent in Jesus name.
Prophetic Declaration:
– I declare your turn to be favoured has come
– Received the wisdom to win souls in the name of Jesus.
From your brother Alex
God bless you.
