Be Wise but Innocent (Matt 10:17-25)

Matthew 10:16-17   16 "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  


Luke 10:3   3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 

This wolf attack last April in El Pego left 20 sheep dead.

Two things to note.  First, Jesus was sending his own disciples into danger knowing what the wolves were capable of.  And his disciples wouldn't always come back in one piece.  This is sometimes the cost of following Jesus.  Secondly, they were to be wise, but innocent.  This is an incredibly hard balance to maintain.  

I was part of a team of executives who were negotiating a business deal between two companies.  We flew executives from the other company into Atlanta and spent the day with them in the early stages of negotiating the deal.  At the end of the day, we sent them back to the airport in a limo.  Unbeknownst to me, the limo driver that we sent them with was actually one of our employees only dressed as a limo driver.   My boss had placed a mole in the limo as their driver so that he could report back on their conversation as he drove them to the airport.  He was hoping they would discuss the deal so that we could gain an advantage in the negotiations.  Brilliant, but not innocent.  Jesus wants his disciples to be wise AND innocent.  Not manipulative.  Always truthful.  Not seeking their gain at other's expense.   This is a hard balance to maintain especially when the stakes are big and maybe your life or livelihood is on the line.  

Be wise and innocent.  Live with integrity.