Matt 10:16-22 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. ²¹ “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

All of us are at our best when we strive to be both wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We are living in a more hostile time to Christianity and it requires great wisdom of us and the ability to speak and act without causing unnecessary offense to people we are trying to reach out to. It is a worthy balance to find.

Two things are still very true today concerning what Jesus told His followers to expect on their first mission trip. The first being we should expect Opposition today as Christians. Jesus disciples did as they went on this mission trip. People will as well on a world-wide scale during the great tribulation period. Opposition in Jesus time on this earth came from and still today comes from the government, religion and family. Currently in many parts of the world Christians face horrible persecution. While we as Christians are blessed to live in America even in this great land we face much more opposition in our country than at any time I can remember in my lifetime. I fear it will get worse unless we have revival.

The second thing that is still true today is the opposition we face leads to an Opportunity to represent our Christ. Jesus told His followers they would be brought before kings, governors and Gentiles as a testimony to them. He assured His disciples the Holy Spirit would give them what they needed to say at that time. Rest assured this is still true today. It is our blessing and privilege to view opposition more as an opportunity than a burden.

Jesus concluded our passage in Matt 10:22 with these words “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” What a great promise. When we view Opposition as an Opportunity and endure it to the very end we will be privileged to be known as Overcomers in Christ Jesus.

May God give all of us the grace to see Opposition as an Opportunity to shine for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Love all of you!

Tim