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Read:
Matthew 10:16-20
If Believers are the heirs of God - joint-hears with Christ - why does He put us in positions for which we are so obviously un-fit? When He sends His children into battle, we should be clearly the strongest. When He sends us to solve a problem, we should be the obvious expert. When He asks us to make peace, we should be the smoothest diplomat. Instead, when He sends us to do His will He sends us as sheep to wolves, just as Jesus did when He dispatched His disciples into Galilee after empowering them to perform wondrous works.
Early in my medical practice, I was selected to lead a hospital medical staff in a small community. The administrator of the hospital was highly regarded in the community for his apparent success running the facility. He often boasted how wise he was, and how effective he was in his role. However, as the new young doctor in town I soon learned that things were not as they seemed, that his success was built upon lying, cheating and stealing. I was totally unprepared to deal with this situation, where everything that seemed right was wrong. I was convinced God had placed me in that position, yet I was clearly a sheep among the wolves.
Still God, as always, knew exactly what He was doing. He used these experiences to teach me that righteous behavior is always right, even when the world's way seems more effective in the short term. He taught me that all true blessing and power is from Him, despite the apparent rewards the world can offer. Moreover, He gave me the confidence that comes from experiencing His faithfulness, to know from real-world examples that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.
Challenge:
As Friends of Nazareth begins its work of obtaining funds to build a new school for His glory in those same Galilean hills, we need to remain aware that we are being sent as sheep in the midst of wolves. As we strive to be wise as serpents yet harmless as doves, we do so in complete confidence. We know He will provide the proper direction for our work. He will supply the provisions that we will need to accomplish that work. And He is faithful to complete the good work that He began in us. However, our daily prayer must be, as sheep in the midst of wolves, for Him to remain our sole direction and provision, and that completion of work is His responsibility and glory.
In closing, to show that sometimes the good guys win even in this world, that administrator was finally convicted and imprisoned for his misdeeds.
Peace to All
Dr. Norman Ervin
Physician
September 19, 2011
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