CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 861

“Wise and Innocent”

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

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Nothing exemplifies the idea of sheep among wolves as do the elderly and the young. Human predators among us prey upon both age extremes using all mannerisms of cunning and disguise so as to deceive the innocent.

Jesus exhorts us to have the practical wisdom of the serpent which God’s Word says was craftier than any other beast that the Lord created. (Genesis 3:1) This wisdom however, is to be tempered with the innocence and harmlessness of a dove. There are four qualities of practical wisdom that we need to adopt as character traits.

BOLDNESS: We need to be bold in our defense of the faith and in answering our call to the Lord’s service.

WATCHFULNESS: Our boldness must be tempered by remaining alert and watchful of our surroundings. We need to know what is happening around us so that we are not blind-sided and surprised by the attack of the enemy.

WARINESS: Boldness is further balanced by a sense of caution or wariness. Not everyone is to be trusted. Not everyone who says they have a word from the Lord for you truly does. (1 John 4:1)

OPENNESS: Lastly, we need to maintain an openness and transparency such that there is no appearance of hidden agendas for personal gain. These four character traits in balance define the practical wisdom that Jesus wants us to have.

The book of Esther in the Bible illustrates these character qualities in action. Haman sought to kill all the Jews and he manipulated the king into giving him carte blanche to do so. In God’s perfect plan, Esther was uniquely positioned as a Jewess and as the Queen. Compelled by Mordecai, her uncle, she took action. Her most important first step was to call the community to a time of prayer and fasting. Esther knew that she needed God’s power and presence to succeed.

Esther was bold in her plan knowing full well that the king could have her killed. (Esther 4:16) She remained watchful and aware of the plans that Haman was concocting. Esther was wary and cautious about who knew her nationality and in whom she trusted with her plans. She exercised caution through two separate invitations to dinner in order to create the best possible environment for success. Through it all Esther remained open and above-board. She gave credit to Mordecai about the news of the assassination plot and did not falsely accuse Haman but rather invited him to the dinners with the king to be confronted face to face with the truth.

Jesus was up front about the trials and persecution that lay in store for us in this life on earth. This is why He taught us to pray and why He sent us the Holy Spirit after He returned to the Father. May you begin each day in prayer and worship. May you be equipped with the full armor of God and go forth each day in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. May you have ears to hear His guiding whisper of wisdom and to willingly obey His check to maintain innocence in the presence of evil.