God Is Sending You Knowing What Will Be Endured

“¹⁶Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” — Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

I read these words from Jesus and at first I am a bit taken aback at how pointed they are. Jesus is telling the apostles that He is sending them out into the danger zone. The apostles are going to be on the front lines and not sitting back in the comfort and protection of the leadership tent. They will be out among those that will have the direct opportunity to act on and harm them.

Jesus knows the adversity that we are to face daily in our relationship with Him. Whereas I find the verse above a bit of a shock at first read, it is only after I contemplate the reason for the verse and the additional instruction from Jesus, that I am comforted to the point of going and taking on the challenges that come with that relationship with Him.

“¹⁹When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” — Matthew 10:19-20 (ESV)

I now see that Jesus was not just sending them out to be slaughtered, He was preparing them for the adversity and then reminding them that they have everything the need to overcome.

Jesus sends me out into the world to shine His light on all the world. I am to go and do His will in everything. I am also to know that it will not be easy and that there are those that are out to destroy me. But, He has also provided me with all that I need to withstand and overcome the acts and those that perform them against me and Him. I am prepared and have to remember and know that I am ready.

God sends me out to do His will and it is my duty to go. I have all I need and know that He is only sending me because He knows I am ready and that He will be with me every step of the way.

What are your feelings about being sent out into the world to the “wolves”? Are you anxious enough that you are reluctant to go and looking for all reasons why not to go? What if you took the approach that God is sending your knowing you are ready, have all that you need, and that He will be with you every step of the way?