To Be or Not to Be, That is the Question: Be Wise and Be Innocent at the Same Time. Part Two Continued.

There is a direct connection to the giving of wisdom and the giving of knowledge. GOD has offered all the knowledge we need but does not miraculously stuff it into our heads. We must seek HIS knowledge and strive to understand it. Solomon wrote, “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15) Hosea spoke harshly to the leadership of Israel saying, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” I can provide many such Scriptures, but you get the point. Back to Matthew 10, when JESUS sent out HIS sheep, HE told them to be “Wise as Serpents.” I wonder if HE was reflecting on what was going on in the beginning, in the Garden. The Serpent was called More Cunning than any other beast. Know that the positive translation of the word cunning is prudent. According to Solomon again, “Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” (Proverbs 13:16) Being prudent is putting knowledge into action. Being wise is knowing how to use knowledge. So, they both are quite synonymous, and both go back to the Knowledge of GOD’S WILL. Perhaps JESUS was finally turning the tables on Satan, who was the crafty Serpent, only it is HIS Apostles that are to be Wise as Serpents. This time, JESUS and the Disciples would win and continue to win, by wisdom. If you desire to learn about what it was like for a Disciple to be wise as serpents, turn to Acts in the New Testament and see the wisdom of Peter, John, Paul, and others. Remember, there’s a roaring lion out there who is hungry to devour. GOD has given us the weapons to overcome him, HIS WORD. Be diligent in learning HIS WORD. Be prayerful in having the wisdom to use it properly. Come on Sheep. Let’s go out there in wisdom.

RUSSELL ASHBY