10 Days in Matty 10: Day 7

Alrighty then. Day 7 our of 10 in “Ten Days in Matty Ten.”

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. There for be as shrewd as snaked and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16

Ok, be shrewd and innocent. Hmm…Kind of strange to me. I wasn’t real sure what to do with this one at first. Then I thought. It helps to think. And then I thought of it. Titus 1. This is where we see some guidelines for the lifestyles of elders.

Now for a lot of you “elders” may the men who are one step higher on the church ladder than deacons. Well, I don’t think that’s the original intention of elders. I’m no Biblical scholar, but I have read a good bit on elders and deacons. And here’s what I’ve found. We say full-time pastor, the Bible says elder. The two are the same. So I don’t believe there is supposed to be staff, elders, deacons and members. I believe it’s supposed to be staff (elders), deacons, and members. That’s what I believe based on what I’ve studied, but that a discussion for another day.

The point I’m trying to make is that these guidelines found in Titus 1 are what Jesus is referring to in Matthew 10:16. This is a distinct list…

Be blameless
A husband of but one wife
Father children who believe
Not overbearing
Not quick-tempered
Not given to drunkenness
Not pursuing dishonest gain
Hospitable (which is actually my top spiritual gift)
Loves what is good
Self-controlled
Upright
Holy
Disciplined
Hold firm to the trustworthy message
Encourage others
Refute those who oppose the message

That’s not a very long list when you think about it.

Now I’m not saying I have this whole list down pat. I do only have one wife, but I don’t have any children. I try to be self-controlled, but sometimes I lose my temper in ATL traffic. I try to love what is good, but sometimes I love myself. I try not to pursue dishonest gain, but I’m also ambitious. I try to be disciplined, but sometimes I’m lazy.

So like I said, I’m not perfect. But this list gives me something to strive for in my character. I can look at this lest and easily see which ones I do practice well, and which ones I don’t. Like I said, hospitality is my top spiritual gift, but I get mad in traffic.

At least with this list, I know what it means to be as shrewd as a snake and as innocent as a dove.