Wise As Serpents

Do you think about what you are going to say before you say it?

"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. - Matthew 10:16-22

When people speak without thinking, it often shows.

What they say doesn't always come out the way they might have wanted, and there is no hiding the fact that they didn't give it much forethought.

So, when Jesus says not to worry about what his disciples should say when they are taken into custody, that could sound very scary.

First he tells them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  Surely a serpent has a plan in mind if he is wise, or does wisdom have more to do with knowing when to say nothing?

Saying nothing may be the best defense.  Though we all want to declare our innocence, right?

When falsely charged, we tend to become emotional, and that is where we get ourselves in trouble.

Emotions work against us sometimes.  The wise hold back their emotions, avoiding the trap they present to us.

Jesus tells them and us to let the Spirit of the Father speak through us.

How do we do that?

I think we begin with silence, letting the emotions slip back into their domain, way down inside us.  Then we tap into the Spirit with prayer.

Father guide me.  Help me form the words that I need.

And then we let the Spirit inform us.

For me, this is a process, an exercise.  I clear my mind, offer up all my concerns, and tell God I know there is a solution that He can show me.

Then I wait.

I put the problem aside and open my mind to what comes.

Some answer always comes.  It may not make sense at first, but if I think about it and play with it, something may come out of it.

God is always with us.  We only have to open our hearts, minds and souls to receive all He has to offer.

More to come...