Are you still sitting on your comfort zone?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
(Matthew 10:16 (NIV))

Most of us recognize this passage as being from when Jesus sent out His disciples to do what He had been doing. They were to proclaim the good news, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and drive out demons.

I don’t know about you, but that is so far beyond my comfort zone that I truly only feel comfortable with proclaiming the good news.

But, . . .

Jesus sent out His disciples even knowing that they probably felt that what they were called to do was outside of their comfort zone!

They went!

We are not given details of what transpired, but we are also not told that they failed at any of these tasks. Up until this point, they were used to seeing Jesus do all of these things. They knew who He was. They knew that if He called them to do these things, then He would give them the power and authority to step out and complete what He had asked of them.

Do you think that they were nervous?

Do you think that they were afraid?

Do you think that they doubted themselves?

I am certain that they had all of the very same concerns that we would have, yet, they willingly stepped outside of their comfort zones. I am so thankful that they did, for without that lesson in faith in the promises of Jesus, they would have not been able to step outside of their comfort zones after the resurrection. They would have believed, but their confidence, their trust in the abilities that the Lord had blessed them with, would not have existed as strongly and they would not have been able to build His church.

They trusted in Jesus and they stepped outside of their comfort zone.

How well do you trust Jesus?

Are you still sitting on your comfort zone?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you able to share the Gospel with shrewdness and innocence?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
(Matthew 10:16 (NIV))

Have you truly stopped to think about this passage?

Each of us understand the concept of being sheep among wolves. If we follow the instructions that Jesus left for all believers, then we are in a constant state of perpetual danger. Just as a sheep may be devoured by the wolves, we, too, may be devoured by the enemy if we are not careful. The passage doesn’t say to stay away from danger! In fact, the passage clearly states that Jesus sent the disciples out, and just like the disciples, He is sending us as well.

Jesus did give us instructions. We are to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

It sounds fairly simple, but have you ever thought about what it takes to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves?

I realize that everyone typically thinks of snakes in a deceitful way, but Jesus was telling us to use some of the characteristics of snakes when we are sharing the Gospel. What do you think of first when you think of a snake? Do you think of the possibility that a snake could be under foot at any moment? With this in mind, do you constantly look for snakes? Is that being shrewd on the part of the snake? Perhaps we should look at this from a different vantage point. Does a snake show itself openly or does it hide until the opportune time arises. If we are to be as shrewd as snakes, we should be among the danger, but not exposed to it. We should watch and wait. Just as a snake may not show itself to everyone, we may not be called to show ourselves to everyone at one moment. We should size up whom we should approach and then make our move to share the Gospel. We are to use wisdom and discernment!

Look at this concept from the missions of Paul. When he entered a town, many times he would find someone who was prominent in the town and present the Gospel to them. If he was able to convert them, it became easier to convert others. Paul was shrewd in his evangelism. He understood human nature. He knew that if he could convert a person with contacts, then others would follow. In today’s society, the concept is that we are teaching the teachers. Even in this shrewdness of plan, Paul never failed to walk innocently amongst those with whom he shared the gospel. He did not do anything to betray the trust of those with whom he shared. He did not have ulterior motives. He did not seek any of the trappings of the physical world.

Are you able to share the Gospel with shrewdness and innocence?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you on watch for bad fruit?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
(Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV))

Think about this the next time that you hear of something that is just too good to be true, or is just a little off of what God’s Word says that it should be. Most of the time, lies are obvious, but deception is a trick of the enemy. When things sound almost right with respect to God’s word, they are totally wrong.

It should be easy for believers to realize that the “fruit” does not match the source. We should be able to easily distinguish that the things the enemy tells us are too good to be true, especially when they contradict everything that we should know to be true according to God’s Word.

Why do people fall for the deceptions of the enemy?

Are we, as a fallen, sinful race, too far removed from the truth to even recognize it?

The words in Matthew are amazing and sadly amusing if you stop to actually understand what is being said. We have enough common sense to not look for grapes on an apple tree, yet, we easily fall prey to the small lies of the enemy in hopes that the promises are true.

Test everything against God’s Word. If something is supposed to bear goodness, but it lies to do so, does it really follow God’s Word? If you are promised that it is only a small digression and no one will know about it, can it be the correct fit?

We have been told what the things of God will bear.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV))

Think of this passage when validating the truth about something. Does it produce according to the fruit of the Spirit?

Are you on watch for bad fruit?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Why are you still sitting on the couch?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Matthew 28:19 (NIV))

Everyone who professes a faith in Jesus knows this verse and the implications that it carries for us. Why is it that so few actually do anything to spread the Gospel? Think about this in relationship to your own life. How many people have you told about the Gospel and the redeeming power that can be theirs if they only believe?

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
(Luke 10:2 (NIV))

Perhaps why we don’t is found in the next words that are recorded in Luke.

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
(Luke 10:3 (NIV))

This is not a very pretty mental image. We are told that we will be facing danger when we go. To some people, the thought of being physically assaulted or killed is too much danger. To others, the thought of simply being in an uncomfortable situation is more than they can handle.

What if Jesus felt this way?

He paid it all so that you and I could have the free gift of salvation.

What if the person who led you to Jesus had felt this way?

Where would that leave you?

What about all of the people that the Lord has placed in your life who need to know about the saving grace that can be theirs simply by professing that Jesus is their Lord and Savior? Don’t have the attitude where you tell yourself that “I’ve got mine. They are on their own!” It is time that the Body of Christ does exactly what we have been called to do. We are to share the Good News. We are to share the Gospel that brought us grace and mercy with all who will listen.

Why are you still sitting on the couch?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Can you spot the wolves before they attack?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
(John 10:12 (NIV))

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the one from whom the attack comes is not that obvious?

Think about that for a moment.

We are always on the lookout for the wolves that come our way, but not every attack from the enemy will be a direct and an announced attack. We are all on the lookout for the obvious, but are we so acutely aware that many times the attacks come from an unlikely source? Many times the greatest attacks that we will ever face come from sources that are familiar to us. They appear to be safe, and then when we least expect it, they become the source of all of our troubles. These literally are the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Thankfully, Jesus is our good shepherd. He loves us and cares for us. He walks with us and protects us from the attacks of the enemy. He will not abandon us to the ravenous enemy.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
(John 10:11 (NIV))

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
(John 10:14 (NIV))

Call out to Jesus. Spend the time needed to get to know Him. Take the time to learn His voice. Let Him guide you through the trials and tribulations that you will face in this life. He will show you the wolves in sheep’s clothing!

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Jesus is with us even among the wolves!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
(Luke 10:3 (NIV))

Do you feel comfortable in your faith? Do you feel that you are safe in the society in which we live?

With the events of the last few years and the escalated anti-Christian rhetoric that we see all over the place, we need to remember that Jesus warned His disciples using the words recorded above. What was true then is rapidly becoming true once again. Professing a faith in Jesus is becoming a social stigma. I honestly believe that the Body of Christ has become complacent and that we have forgotten that the world hates us because of our love for Jesus.

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
(Matthew 10:22 (NIV))

Are you strong enough in your faith to still follow the instructions that Jesus left us and simply go into the society and into the world that grows to hates us more and more each day?

Think about that question in relationship to a lamb that is surrounded by wolves.

The lamb, in its innocence, goes forth into the world. The wolves see the lamb and realize that they are looking at their next victim, their next meal. We may not be a literal next meal, but we are all familiar with sayings such as, “They are going to eat his lunch.” We know that the outcome as expected from the physical perspective does not look good.

I don’t know when we may face things. I don’t know if we may face things, but I do know that there is a possibility of being surrounded by the wolves of this world. Are we, as the Body of Christ, prepared to face whatever we may face because of our faith in Jesus?

Jesus is with us even among the wolves!

Copyright 1998 – 2016 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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