"SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES!"

Matthew 10:16-18                        (ESV)
"16 "Behold, I am sending you out as "SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES", so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for MY sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles."




Living with the fact that we are "chosen" by GOD (John 15:16) could be a tremendously exciting experience.   However, to be "chosen" by our Creator also brings with it some "promises" that are overlooked by some people, especially so called ministers who are focused on the things of "this world".   When JESUS spoke to Ananias in Acts 9:15-16 HE said "Go, for he (Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of MINE to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  FOR I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MUCH HE MUST SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME!" Or how about John 16:33 where JESUS says "I have said these things to you, that in ME you may have peace. In the world YOU WILL have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."   And of course, in James 1:2-4, scripture records "Count it all joy, my brothers, WHEN (not if!) you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

JESUS tries to prepare us for what will lie ahead for us in dealing with "this world".  But we tend to skim over the "trials and tribulations" scriptures sometimes and focus on the deliverance verses.  GOD's Word will not return void and these verses proclaim that we are "SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES"!  All kinds of atrocities ARE going to be performed against us, and we must be a witness for HIM as the world acts.

Most of us want to question GOD that if we are going to church once a week then why we have to go through what we do, when JESUS said in John 9:1-5 that we are here to be used to bring glory to the FATHER.  It's not about us being elevated or promoted above our peers, but about giving honor and glory to our HEAVENLY FATHER!

Yes, it's true, we are but "SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES", but our Shepherd is there to guard and protect us.  We should never forget that "this world" doesn't revolve around us (even though the history of my life isn't a great example of this) and that it is all about giving GOD glory!  The more times we are "SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES", the more we have to depend on HIS guidance to deliver us from where we are.