Day 10: Genesis 25-26; Matthew 10:1-25
Shrewd as serpents, innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16)
If, as Matthew Green contends in his commentary on Matthew, Jesus' presence is divisive (remember Herod, the Chief Priests and the Magi - what will you do with Jesus, Matthew 2:1-12?), then it follows that those opposed to Jesus will be opposed to Jesus' followers. It happened in Jesus' day and it happens today. We cannot control how others act and react to us, but we can control (by God's grace and His Spirit within us) how we respond to others. Jesus' words in Matthew 10:16 are captivating. When it comes to dealing with the world, use worldly wisdom. Take advantage of what is afforded you and apply what you know to deal with those who oppose you because they oppose Jesus (for me this is one reason Christians get involved in politics and use the law to advance justice and righteousness - see Luke 16:8-9 for a similar word). However, note well that Jesus called for balance. Jesus is the most balanced Person ever! Just because we use worldly wisdom does not mean we embrace worldly values. Remember the context of Matthew 10 is mission. We are always on mission! Character matters! So, the strange balance to serpent-shrewd is dove-innocent. Jesus said everything with deliberate precision. The dove is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. He infills, empowers, purifies, and instructs us in living like Jesus. Everything we do is to come from pure motives and reflect holiness. For this, we must have help, we need The Helper, the Holy Spirit to keep our mission front and center, and our motives pure and beyond reproach. Even in opposition, we want people to see Jesus in us (1 Peter 3:13-17). For, our mission is about eternal life and it is a matter of life and death. And, the big win when facing opposition is not to beat them at their game, but to welcome them into the family of God. We win when the opposition embraces Him as Savior and Lord! So, God help us to exercise wisdom balanced with holy love...then we will be like Jesus.
If, as Matthew Green contends in his commentary on Matthew, Jesus' presence is divisive (remember Herod, the Chief Priests and the Magi - what will you do with Jesus, Matthew 2:1-12?), then it follows that those opposed to Jesus will be opposed to Jesus' followers. It happened in Jesus' day and it happens today. We cannot control how others act and react to us, but we can control (by God's grace and His Spirit within us) how we respond to others. Jesus' words in Matthew 10:16 are captivating. When it comes to dealing with the world, use worldly wisdom. Take advantage of what is afforded you and apply what you know to deal with those who oppose you because they oppose Jesus (for me this is one reason Christians get involved in politics and use the law to advance justice and righteousness - see Luke 16:8-9 for a similar word). However, note well that Jesus called for balance. Jesus is the most balanced Person ever! Just because we use worldly wisdom does not mean we embrace worldly values. Remember the context of Matthew 10 is mission. We are always on mission! Character matters! So, the strange balance to serpent-shrewd is dove-innocent. Jesus said everything with deliberate precision. The dove is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. He infills, empowers, purifies, and instructs us in living like Jesus. Everything we do is to come from pure motives and reflect holiness. For this, we must have help, we need The Helper, the Holy Spirit to keep our mission front and center, and our motives pure and beyond reproach. Even in opposition, we want people to see Jesus in us (1 Peter 3:13-17). For, our mission is about eternal life and it is a matter of life and death. And, the big win when facing opposition is not to beat them at their game, but to welcome them into the family of God. We win when the opposition embraces Him as Savior and Lord! So, God help us to exercise wisdom balanced with holy love...then we will be like Jesus.
Photo by Raphael Renter on Unsplash.
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2023
January
Day 1: Genesis1-2; Matthew 1Day 2: Genesis 3-5; Matthew 2Day 3: Genesis 6-8; Matthew 3Day 4: Genesis 9-11; Matthew 4Day 5: Genesis 12-14; Matthew 5-6Day 6: Genesis 15-17; Matthew 7Day 7: Genesis 18-22Day 8: Matthew 8Day 9: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 9Day 10: Genesis 25-26; Matthew 10:1-25Day 11: Genesis 27-28; Matthew 10:26-42Day 12: Genesis 29-30; Matthew 11Day 13: Genesis 31-32; Matthew 12:1-21Day 14: Genesis 33-37Day 15: Matthew 12:22-13:23Day 16: Genesis 38-40; Matthew 13:24-58Day 17: Genesis 41; Matthew 14:1-21Day 18: Genesis 42-43; Matthew 14:22-36Day 19: Genesis 44-45; Matthew 15:1-20Day 20: Genesis 46-48; Matthew 15:21-39Day 21: Genesis 49-Exodus 4; Matthew 16Day 22: Genesis 49-Exodus 4; Matthew 16Day 23: Exodus 5-6; Matthew 17Day 24: Exodus 7-10; Matthew 18:1-20Day 25: Exodus 11-12; Matthew 18:21-35Day 26: Exodus 13-15; Matthew 19:1-15Day 27: Exodus 16-18; Matthew 19:16-30Day 28: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16Day 29: Exodus 19-22; Matthew 20:1-16Day 30: Exodus 23-25; Matthew 20:17-34Day 31: Exodus 26-28; Matthew 21
February
Day 32: Exodus 29-30; Matthew 22:1-22Day 33: Exodus 31-33; Matthew 22:23-46-Day 34: Exodus 34-36; Matthew 23:1-22Day 35: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39Day 36: Exodus 37 - Leviticus 1; Matthew 23:23-39Day 37: Leviticus 2-3; Matthew 24Day 38: Leviticus 4-6; Matthew 25:1-30Day 39: Leviticus 7-9; Matthew 25:31-46
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