Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. Matthew 10:16-23
Meditate. Consider Jesus’ advice.
Look closely. Is it a sheep or wolf?
Jesus
sent His disciples out two by two—not alone. I love that He told them to be
shrewd. Don’t be puny and spineless—stand up for what you believe and present
it in a way that is convincing. They were brought before governors and kings.
We could be brought before judges or others and need to be willing to give our
testimony as the Holy Spirit prompts—speaking spiritual food. Are you standing
up for what you believe?
Jesus
also warns His followers that false prophets or teachers can seem like gentle
folks, but they are really deceivers.
Beware of the false prophets,
[teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent],
but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:15 AMP
Jesus
gives wise advice—beware. Be shrewd. There is no need to trust a smooth talker,
who would just as likely throw you into jail as encourage or support
Christians. Be careful.
The
Spirit speaks. Spiritual food. Sometimes when we don’t know what to say
the Holy Spirit gives us the proper words to say. When I was asked to give a
prayer before taking an offering for a missionary at church one Sunday morning,
I thought about and planned just what I was going to say—and when it came time—the
words I spoke were not what I planned to say—but so much better. It happened
again when I prayed with a friend over the phone—and then a couple of days
later she called again—to say she was feeling better and that my prayer had
been so special to her, giving her a deep calmness and peace. That was the Holy
Spirit. God gives peace. Amazing!
What
do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage today?
Prayer
– Lord, help us to stand up for what we believe—for You—for Your sake.
Verse
of Salvation ~ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it
says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.'
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by
which we must be saved. Acts
4:11-12
Happy
Anniversary, dear one.
We’ve
made it this far—til death do us part!
© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New
Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House
Foundation.
Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Scripture
quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),
Copyright ©2015 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Biblical
search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
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