Wise and Harmless – Stepping in the Light

“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

When Jesus sent His disciples out on their own for the first time, He gave them careful instructions as to where they were to go and what they were to do. He wanted them to preach a simple message, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He gave them power to perform miracles, told them not to take provisions for their travels, and warned them that they would face persecution.

In the middle of His challenge to them, He admonished them to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. These two creatures are about as opposite as you could imagine, but Christ used each one as an example of a single characteristic that would be important as they followed Him. A snake doesn’t have arms, legs, or feet, but somehow is able to move about and stay alive. Sometimes, as we follow the Lord, it seems that we don’t have everything that some would deem necessary to succeed; but with His wisdom, we can find a way to serve the Lord effectively. Doves are graceful in their movements and harmless in their interactions with other creatures. Christians should be gentle people. We should be kind in our speech and compassionate in our nature. As we work to build these characteristics in our lives, we will find opportunities to serve others and strengthen our testimony as followers of Christ.

Morning: Genesis 33-35

Evening: Matthew 10:1-20

About This Site

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

If you were to find yourself walking down a path in the dark of night with only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, you wouldn’t be able to see very far ahead. You would be able to see just enough of the pathway to know which direction to take your next step and enough of the ground to choose the best place for your feet. When it comes to our daily lives, God’s Word is a lot like that lantern. It will not show us the whole path at once, but it is exactly what we need to help us decide how to take the next step.

The Bible is our source of spiritual light, and if we consistently seek God’s direction as we read from its pages, we will always have enough light for our next step along the pathway of life. It is then that we are, in the words of an old gospel song, “stepping in the light.”

The goal of this devotional guide is to encourage you to spend time in the Word of God each day. Reading the passages listed at the bottom of the page will take you all the way through the Bible in one year. The devotional thought for each day is taken from a text within that day’s reading, so even that small daily portion of reading will take you on a journey through God’s Word. It is my prayer that this guide would help you to walk closer to the Lord and that you will find yourself taking each step in the light of His Word.