How to be Wise as Serpents
By Capazin Thornton
We live in a world where people seek to destroy our spiritual and natural life. Jesus tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
In Matthew chapter 10 Jesus is sending His disciples out two by two into towns and villages in Israel to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. He tells His disciples He is sending them into a hostile world. He warns them of coming persecution. He says, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mt 10:16).
Be Wise as Serpents
The first mention of serpents is in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. The serpent is described as more cunning than any beast of the field. Serpents are clever to avoid enemies. And they know how to catch prey.
Revelation 12:7 reveals that serpent of old is the devil. While clever, he is merely a created being. He is limited in knowledge. And his time is running out.
In a world increasingly hostile and cruel to Christians and Jews, we need to operate in God’s wisdom.
To be wise as serpents, seek God’s wisdom
First, seek God’s wisdom in His Word. True wisdom involves knowing the truth and how to apply it in any given situation. Proverbs is a good place to start. Each proverb tells us how to deal wisely in the affairs of life.
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.” (Prov. 2:6-8)
Second, pray. Ask God to flood your spirit with light so that you can see things from His perspective. (Eph 1:17-18) Then pray for those who persecute you.
Third, be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Rely on Him to give you supernatural counsel and wisdom when you need it. (Eph 5:18; Mt 10:19-20)
To be wise as serpents, operate in the wisdom from above
When dealing with vile people, operate in the wisdom from above. Their speech may be earthly, sensual, and demonic. (Jas 3:15) However, “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (Jas 3:17).
To be wise as serpents, be harmless as doves
Jesus tells His followers to be harmless as doves. Doves symbolize purity and innocence. Don’t engage in heated debates. In the midst of hatred, hostility, and persecution, we must conduct ourselves in an exemplary manner before the Lord.
Be above reproach in speech and conduct. The wisdom of God and the purity of our hearts will see us through. In the process, we might even win over some who railed against us the loudest.
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How do you respond when people come against you? Please leave your comments.
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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author based in South Orange County, California.
