Discipleship and Snakes

(8th post on Zoo thread)

“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Matthew 23:33

If the Lord Jesus encountered snakes there is no doubt that we will. What are snakes exactly? People who have been influenced by the largest snake of all, the serpent of old.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1

The plan of the enemy has not changed. It starts with temptation. The simple act of planting a seed of doubt that questions the Word, Person and Character of God and if that does not work he switches to deception – “you will be like God”.

And when that still does not work – he uses enticement to make us the see the fruit he offers to be much more than what it really is. He presents it in such a way that it appears to be good as food, pleasing to the eye and profitable for gaining wisdom. Something that is good, pleasing and profitable and yet is out of God’s will.

Finally, like the true snake that he is, when all else fails he uses condemnation and accusation. He shouts “you are unworthy of your God and besides he is the cause of all your problems”.

Often he uses people to do his bidding. So the next time you encounter his pattern of attack in your own life or in the lives of those you are I discipleship with it is time to see what’s behind the snakes in front of you.

How does one fight back? By simply exposing the truth behind the temptation, deception, enticement, condemnation and accusation, which is why it is so important to read, know, love confess and believe God’s Word everyday of our lives. This is basic to discipleship and we need to teach those whom we disciple to do the same.

Secondly keep your eyes opened for possible snakes. One way to do that is to be as shrewd as them. To be shrewd simply means to know their ploy by being prudent with your ways while remaining innocent and pure.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16