As Lambs Among Wolves
Today’s Verse:
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. ~Luke 10:3
Lambs and wolves are natural enemies. Lambs are young sheep that are less than a year old. Lambs are cute, cuddly, and compact (small). They are extremely vulnerable and must rely on the safety of the flock and the shepherd. Wolves, on the other hand, are carnivorous predators. Wolves see lambs as easy pickings for food. Jesus told seventy men whom He sent out to proclaim the gospel that He sent them out as lambs among wolves.
We see the innocence.
Lambs are very innocent and naïve. They are not malicious or endangering by nature. They are somewhat docile and gentle. Jesus is telling us that the life of His servants should be blameless and innocent. There should be no malice or guile in our hearts as we serve the Lord. We should serve the Lord from a heart that is pure in motive. Jesus is also telling us that the spirit of the lamb is to be tender. We should be so walking in the Spirit that the fruit of the Spirit abounds in us. I believe the innocence of a servant of the Lord is captured in 2 Timothy 2:24: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.”
We see the instructions.
Jesus was giving instructions to the seventy men whom He sent out. He said, “I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” He gave instructions on what not to bring; to avoid being distracted; to accept whatever accommodations given to them and not be demanding; to focus on helping the needy, spiritually sick, and unsaved; on how to handle rejection; and that they were His representatives. Modern-day spiritual servants seek the favor of man and popularity. The labor as if they are building their kingdom and not the Lord’s kingdom. The Lord’s instructions have as much relevance today as they had when He gave them back in that day.
We see the insultation.
Lambs among wolves describes the danger and risks of serving the Lord. Wolves speak about false teachers and those who try to steal members from a congregation. The Lord gives His servants protection and safety. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17). He protects His servants by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11). Through His instruction, He tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. The Lord is our shield and exceeding great reward.
We see the influence.
These servants were sent to cities to represent Jesus. As His servants, our priority is to influence the people in cities with the gospel of our Lord. We might be weak, but God uses the weak things of the world to confound the mighty. We might be small, but little is much when God is in it. We might be outnumbered, but we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. The seventy came back rejoicing because of the victories that the Lord gave them. God makes a way for the lambs among wolves to impact people and cities. Inscribed on the gravestone of missionary John Geddie, who went to the New Hebrides, were these words: “When he landed in 1848, there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen.” Let us make a difference through a godly influence.
Have a humble God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: John 11-12