Picked Out To Be Picked On

Matthew 10:16

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Isn’t it amazing some of the things that God sends his servants through? Whenever you are born again, you’ve been picked out by God. The Lord went through things to get you. He set out to select you. He brought you out of darkness into the marvelous light. You didn’t just happen to be a Christian, you were chosen by him and now he calls you a chosen generation, royal priesthood. You think that if God would go out of his way to select a person or people to work for him that he would safeguard them from all crises, all trials, and all tribulations. It seems strange that he would call me and then send me on the battlefield. And then once he sends me there, he allows me to be picked on. I know he knew it when he called me based upon what he said.

God says some will come and literally kill you and think that they are doing right. But he says don’t worry about it, Paul himself lost his head on Nero’s chopping block. John the Baptist was beheaded for telling the truth. Mark was boiled in a kettle of oil; Peter was crucified with his head down and heels up; John was banished to the Isle of Patmos for the testimony of God’s word and as a witness to Jesus Christ merely for taking a stand for the Lord.

I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. What a strange comparison because sheep don’t fight, but wolves do. Wolves select sheep for their prey. Wolves take sheep and tear them apart. He sends us as sheep in the midst of wolves and then tells us how to act. Be wise as a serpent, but be as harmless as a dove, meaning know that my enemies are coming, but don’t fight back. Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. He says, “I know you thought you were going to a party, but it is actually a wrestling match.” God never said it would be easy, but that he will be with us.