Marshall Mabry - Undignified Worshiper of Jesus Christ

Be Wise and Innocent
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Our Lord uses the behavioral examples of four different animals to help direct our understanding of this commandment.
• Wolves are fierce and furious, voracious and ravenous, deadly and a nemesis – especially to sheep.
• Snakes are cunning and wise – especially in avoiding danger.
• Doves are harmless, docile, and innocent.
• Sheep are meek and humble. They are harmless and inoffensive. They are a testimony to gentleness and meekness in a cruel world.

Here, our Lord is sending us to be on mission (work/live) right in the middle of the wolf pack. It is by faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit that we give testimony to the mission of His gospel. However, He does not leave us with just the command to “go.” In addition, He commands us to “be wise and innocent” as we are on mission.

Father, I cannot do any good apart from you. Nothing in me, by myself is good. Empty me O Lord! May Your Holy Spirit overwhelm my soul, my spirit, my body, my strength! Help me be wise and innocent in the duties of my mission for your glory and Kingdom through Christ our Lord! Amen.

Pray for Laborers
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37–38).

Evangelist Paul Mershon says “…prayer is indeed a power on which the gathering of the harvest and the coming of the Kingdom do in very truth depend.” In America, we live in a time where darkness is expanding. Though we claim to be a “Christian” country, the moral condition of our country continues to grow contrary to God’s standards. We are becoming more self-absorbed, disconnected, and slothful. We desire more governmental assistance and believe that “freedom of speech” gives us the right to criticize anyone and everything. We want “free” stuff at the expense of those who honestly work hard. We are more concerned about our personal comfort than our neighbor’s pain and suffering. Mershon’s point about prayer strikes at the core of Truth. It takes a self-denying, cross-bearing heart to labor in the field of souls. This type of heart eternally sees the horror of “lost souls” and moves into the action of prayer, and willingly offers their body and life to service the Harvest.

Lord Jesus,
Please don’t let me underestimate the importance of this commandment! Work in me, so I may work the field of souls. May I never grow weary in laboring for Your kingdom. Amen.

“Beware of False Prophets”
“15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:15–16, NLT)

I believe this commandment of Christ is a warning to pastors, preachers, and teachers of God’s word. Here, Jesus gives His disciples the permission to critique the lives and actions of their teachers. Do they bear “good” fruit? Are they seasonal or temporary? Are they sheep or wolves? Does their message bring true, lasting conviction or just momentary happiness? Do the words that they speak measure up to real evidence in their lives?

We must pray for wisdom in order to truly follow our Lord’s commandments. Without it, we are prone to follow a blind, false prophet off a mountain. Despite the Lord’s appeal and prayer for our unity as a church, most of modern Christianity is a religion of disunity. Today, we have a denomination for every disgruntled, selfish, church-hoppin’ complainer. Still, the beauty of it all is God uses it. Just as we are directed to use wisdom and discernment when following a pastor or teacher – we must use the same spiritual intelligence in picking our church membership.

May we never forget that because of His unfailing love, our awesome God specializes in taking broken things and making them “beautiful.” He took the repenting heart of an adulterer, deceiver, and murderer, and made him the greatest King in Israel’s history. Furthermore, He graced him with the ancestral lineage to Jesus Christ.

Thank You Father! You are sovereign! You are slow to anger. You are abounding in love. Thank You for Your mercy and grace! Thank You for Jesus!

“Choose the Narrow Way”
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13–14, KJV)

Several commentaries assert that there is a misconception about what Jesus is telling His followers. I believe most believers understand the road to heaven will be paved with many obstacles, trials, temptations, pitfalls, and traps. Moreover, that God’s grace directs the true disciple’s steps along this narrow path to an even smaller gate. This gate is only assessable through Jesus. Jesus said He was “the Way.” Not, a way, but “the Way.” However, the “broad way” that leads to destruction, many commentators believe is the road paved with “good intentions.” The broad path is clearly marked for deceiving followers into believing it is the way to heaven. You cannot claim Christian discipleship without discipline and self-denial. They are cornerstones from which we make our choices.

“The Golden Rule”
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

I believe this is the most remembered of all of Jesus’s commandments. Jesus said it was the “sum (total)” of all the Law. One might think that “empathy” would be required to obey this command, however, “self-awareness” is more important. If you do not know what you like and dislike, what to do and not to do, how could you respond to others intending to follow this commandment? The things you love, you must want for others. If you like to receive, then give to others. If you need prayer, then pray for others. If you desire patience and peace, then respond to others in kind. If you want to be immensely loved, then love others with the same tenacious, intensity.

Remember always, that our Savior loved us with its greatest measurement – His life. He expects no less in return from His followers.

Do Not Cast Pearls
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6).

In Matthew 6 Jesus just told us not to judge, yet in this commandment He instructs us for our benefit to discern the receptiveness of the audience with whom we share His gospel. Some people are not interested in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Nor are they interested in anything that relates to the Church. Many years ago, I had a client who said, “Christianity has caused more wars and deaths than any other major institution in history.” Any attempt on my part to share the gospel at that moment would have been a waste of “life-giving” words. Even still, there are others more belligerent. Some of them even become violent at the mention of the name “Jesus.” We must guard what is sacred.

We must always remember. God is in control. We don’t have to orchestrate, manipulate, direct or coordinate any personal effort into saving people. We just need to trust in the power of His Holy Spirit. God does everything! He did it already 2000 years ago on a hill called Calvary – and He is working now!