Shrewd

Shrewd as snakes

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.  
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,  
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”  
Matthew 10:16-22
Here is something directed to the disciples at the time that can be directly used by followers of Christ today.
When we go out to present the word of God to unbelievers we are to be careful know our surroundings be wise to what is happening. At the same time we are to be as innocent as doves.
The Message of the Gospel of Christ is one of peace. If we present it in the right way no one will be able to truthfully accuse us of doing wrong.
All we should be doing when we present the word of God is saying this is what we believe. This is how you get to heaven. That simple.
Paul speaking in Athens used this technique very effectively. He was invited by the stoics and others philosophers to speak to them. He simply presented Christ in a polite way to them and left it up to them as to whether they believed or not.
As a result some did believe others did not but still others wanted to hear more.
This is the way it should be with us.
Jesus also notes that no matter what we say some will object to what we are saying and bring us before the courts. Some of us will be put to death. It sadly is the way of the world.
But we are told to stand our ground that God will tell us what to say as we stand before the magistrate.
We are told to keep the faith until the very end.
Question to Christians reading this. Is your life modelled after what Jesus is telling his disciples to be like here in Matthew ten?
Think about it.