“Wise And Harmless”- Matthew 10:16b

Roger Fulk Sr. – Admin  · 8m  · BEARING WITNESS 1019 – 01212024 “Wise And Harmless” ” … be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16b – A Heart For The Harvest –
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“Wise And Harmless”

” … be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as

doves.” Matthew 10:16

We are indeed to preach the Gospel and that includes the

Good News and the consequences of sin, but we must do that

with love. There are hurting people even sitting in the pews of

God’s house. At times, we all have wished we would have

done something a little differently with our clumsy attempts to

win souls. At that time, perhaps we were too “pushy” and

wanted an “instant response.” Jesus tells us to be wise but

harmless in our witnessing.

When Jesus said “go” in Mark 16:15, we have at times

acted like bulls in a china shop. In other words, we “go in

people faces” because we didn’t approach them with wisdom

and prayer. We may all have had an inappropriate witnessing

attempt at times-I have! We were “beating up the lost.”

Jesus tells us to “judge with righteous judgment” and that

means to not be judgmental. Why? “For what have I to do to

judge them also that are without?” (I Cor. 5:12a). Although,

their response may have been heart-breaking, we need to

understand that not all will receive Christ (see John 1:12), as it

is our desire. God’s Word will not return unto Him void (cf.

Isa. 55:11): some will receive it and some will not. However,

let’s tell all about Jesus, in love.

If you don’t understand or misunderstand this witnessing

message, perhaps you are missing out on a relationship with

Christ. You can remedy that now. “For whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

Jesus is waiting! -G.W.

Prepared by Roger Fulk, from excerpts from the “Baptist Bread” 21, 2024, devotional by author REV. GARY WADDELL, Victory Ministries, Hartsville, TN With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread. The Baptist Bread