Doves

I am continuing to trace birds through the Bible and I’m in Matthew today.

““Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:16-20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.10.16-20.HCSB

Every morning we have little doves that find their way to our stamp sized backyard. They spend much of their time on the ground, foraging for food and enjoying life in safety. Our dog can’t go in the backyard, she gets sick every time she’s there. So, no predators! We see the comparison Jesus is making as he is sending forth his disciples. He sends them with a warning. The word that pops out to me today is harmless. I’m including the Vine’s Dictionary definition below.

Harmless:

lit., “unmixed, with absence of foreign mixture” (from a, negative, and kerannumi, “to mix”), “pure,” is used metaphorically in the NT of what is guileless, sincere, Mat 10:16, “harmless” (marg., “simple”), i.e., with the simplicity of a single eye, discerning what is evil, and choosing only what glorifies God; Rom 16:19, “simple (unto that which is evil),” AV marg., “harmless;” Phl 2:15, “harmless,” AV marg., “sincere.” The Greeks used it of wine unmixed with water, of unalloyed metal; in the papyri writings it is used of a loan the interest of which is guaranteed (Moulton and Milligan, Vocab.). Trench compares it and synonymous words as follows: “as the akakos (see No. 2, below) has no harmfulness in him, and the adolos no guile, so the akeraios no foreign mixture, and the haplous no folds” (Syn. lvi). Haplous is said of the single eye, Mat 6:22; Luk 11:34.

Blue Letter Bible

We live in a world where everyone has an opinion and everyone is right in their own eyes because they have done the research. They know the statistics. They understand what the opposing perspective does not. Being sent forth means to be as shrewd as a serpent, harmless as a dove. How are serpents shrewd? They’re ground dwellers and they know how to move fast, protect and dodge. The comparison to be as serpents should not be construed too far.

As we continue in the verses in Matthew 10, who gives us the strength and who gives us the words? The Holy Spirit will give us the words. He will fill our minds. We will know which way to go, how to speak, and where to turn. He also asks us to be discerning and choosing what glorifies God.

Can we say that of our interactions with people? Can I? It occurs to me, that when our emotions, pain, past experiences flood our mind, it is easy to react from that advantage point. Pain can mess with my thoughts, my actions, and my next steps.

When I type out a reply, have i asked the Spirit if this is necessary? When I speak, am i praying, Lord, please give me the words. When I move, have I asked the Spirit to lead and guide? When I am in pain, I easily forget. Filters leave quickly.

Here is also the wrestling point for me, if my pain doesn’t stop, how can i find joy in the midst of circumstances? Joy that spills out from me into all the above scenarios. When all around me is sinking sand, will I cry out for the Rock? truly, I want my voice to be shrewd and harmless. This comes only from the Spirit being the one to guide it all.

Some opinions can be kept to myself. Some words are better left unsaid. I’d rather speak the truth of God’s word, humbly. Lord, may i reflect Christ in all I do and say today.