Sheep and Wolves: Matthew 10

Recently in my devotions I found myself drawn to reading Matthew 10, throughout this chapter there were so many words that just spilled off the page in my Bible and into my heart that I just felt like I need to share what was placed on my heart. I in no way claim to be a Pastor, or am certified by anyone other than Christ and I to struggle  in my day to day life so please don't see this as me "preaching at you" rather sharing my heart and wearing it on my sleeve.

That said let's begin,

Starting with Matthew 10:9 and 10
"You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for you journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food."

• We were given Christ without having to pay for that major gift so God's love we should be giving at no cost to others. Since when do we get to decide who is and who isn't worthy of God's love and who is and who isn't supposed to be excluded from that free love which we received without having to give anything? 

Verse 13

"And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you." 

• Peace is to be given to those who deserve it or who are willing to receive it otherwise the peace of the Lord is yours to have. 
• Do not let someone who refuses to accept the word of the Lord, and the Lord to steal your peace, for peace doesn't belong to them it belongs to God and His people and only you can decide to allow someone to take your peace away. 

Verse 16

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

• When we look into the nature of the animals listed above it doesn't take long to see what the Lord is calling us as His followers to behave and portray. 
• Sheep: These are naturally non-aggressive animals that are peaceful animals
• Wolves: roams the wild with a thirst for freedom working within a social environment
• What does all of this mean for us? 
• God calls us to be non aggressive, by separating from the pack of wolves we are the ones who receive the utmost freedom. By allowing God to direct our lives we then become not one of the heard and the world. Now the verse also states we are to be wise as serpents. Have you ever watching serpents hunting their prey? They gain the trust of the prey and then in a fast very orchestrated attack in one sweep of motion they demolish their prey. God isn't asking us to be dumb, or to sit and do nothing but what He is asking of us is to be purposeful, and to be peaceful ,and lastly we are to be innocent. We are to keep our hands clean of injustice towards others and in this day and age and what is going on it's not hard to see we are surrounded by many of wolves and many of people who claim christianity but forget what that entails. 
• God does not call us to hate those who are different than others, God does not call us to prevent those from better life, God does not call us to be spiteful of those who don't accept our faith. Further in to Chapter 10 we see this. 

Verse 20

"For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking THROUGH you."

• This is a very meaningful piece of scripture, something that I feel is of utmost importance to remember. It is NOT us who are to speak out on matters but THE LORD who is to speak THROUGH us. We are to be a vessel for the Holy Spirit to move. Often times we forget that the Lord is the one who is to express in the dark hour, it is the LORD who is supposed to be the one to reign over all things. 
• Often times we forget that the Lord is the one in control and we construde OUR OPINIONS as the LORD'S FACTS! Instead of speaking for God, let God speak for you

Verse 34 to 39

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the Earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

• The Lord isn't bringing peace to Earth but rather fighting for the Lost, and preparing us for battle. 
• Those who love others above God will be denied, choosing your children, parents, aunts or uncles, grandparents before you choose God and follow God's order for your life will lead to God denying you. God is to be above EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING not just the things that you want to put God before but above all of it. 
• Your enemies can be found in your own house: I know this one is a shocker but sit for a moment and let that sink in. How often has God placed something on your heart or a call on your life and you thought "My family would never understand this" or you actively pursue it but upon speaking about it with family you hear from them "How irresponsible, or immature, or they offer an alternative to what you feel God has placed on your heart." Rebuke it. This could be mom, dad, or even a spouse. No one is above this piece of scripture it is in the Bible for a reason. Our family is our greatest weakness or our greatest supports there is a reason that God warns us of enemies within our homes. 

All of the above being said I genuinely recommend you pray and really pursue God and what He expects and has called for your life. Pray that God gives you that check of if you are in the right place that God has for you or are you running and hiding from what God wants for you? Have you put your finances, family, and "practicality" above God? It's never to late to fix the path you are on. 

I pray for all of you that God will reach you where you are and bless you abundantly for accepting God's call and walking in faith.