Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16
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Wise and harmless
Jesus sends his disciples out and is honest: it won't be easy. Sheep among wolves.
His advice is an unusual combination. Be wise as a serpent: shrewd, alert, not naive. And harmless as a dove: honest, without hidden motives. One without the other doesn't work. Only wise becomes cunning. Only harmless becomes naive.
Question for today
Where do I need more wisdom, and where more purity?
Prayer
Lord, you send me into the world. Give me wisdom so that I am not naive, and purity so that I don't become cunning. Amen.