“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16

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Where do you go for advice? Your friends? Maybe your family? How about podcasts? Better yet, social media? 

Speaking of social media, there’s a funny TikTok video about the various things African Americans have common understanding of, regardless of where we were raised. Having watched it repeatedly, I can tell you it’s all true. For example, as a child if you woke up to hearing gospel music playing in the house on a Saturday morning, you knew you were going to spend the day cleaning and decluttering. The funniest example though, is if you witness a group of people that randomly start running, you run, too! Don’t ask any questions—just run. I find this quite funny, but honestly, it reminds me of today’s Scripture. 

What was Jesus saying to His disciples? Why “sheep” or “doves”? Surprisingly, sheep and doves have a lot in common. One of the best ways that sheep protect themselves is by staying close together in a herd. They stick together and look out for each other. If you can believe it, doves do the same thing! They stay close together in their flock to protect themselves. 

I can’t help but think that Jesus wanted the disciples to be innocent like doves—blameless in their pursuit of God. But I also think He was telling His friends to stick close together because people will try to come against them and try to disunite them. In the same way, Paul warned the church in Corinth and in Ephesus. It’s not just about sticking together physically but staying united spiritually and being like-minded. Never straying away from the truth that Jesus taught about. 

Another interesting fact about how sheep protect themselves is by fleeing as a group. When they sense danger they all run away together. Doves are the same way, they take flight all together. I can’t help but think that this means that Jesus wants us to flee from situations that could lead us down dangerous paths. 

So what does a serpent have to do with all this? Researchers found that serpents are hyper aware of their surroundings. Their sharp eyesight allows them to process things quickly. But perhaps the most interesting fact about them is that they are careful to protect their heads because a blow to the head can be deadly. I like to believe that Jesus is telling His disciples to be smart, to quickly assess their surroundings, and to protect their minds from distractions, confusion, and evil. 

Just like it was important for the disciples to understand this, it also is for us, too.  We need to understand what’s going on in the world so that we can relate and engage with different people and different situations while maintaining a Biblical perspective. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “Be in the world but not of the world.” That comes from John 17:14, when Jesus prays for His disciples, saying, “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” Jesus doesn’t want us to be in denial or oblivious to the things of this world. But He does want us to take everything that this world throws at us and hold it up to God’s word to help us be more like Christ.

So while TikTok can make us laugh and lead us into today’s Scripture, it too has its rightful place in our lives. Advice and wisdom are better sought through the Wonderful Counselor. 

Next Steps

When Jesus sent the disciples out to evangelize, He warned them they would face wolf-like opponents who wanted to devour them. Jesus advised combining wisdom and integrity. Together, as a group, they were to be shrewd judges of the things around them but not to respond in kind. How do you deal with wolves?