“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” - Mathew 10:6 (NIV)
Early in February 2019 the world was shocked to learn of a young spirited man called John Chau who was killed while trying to convert an unreached tribe based on an obscure Indian ocean Island. These are the Sentinelese, a hunter-gatherer tribe, who inhabit North Sentinel Island in the Andaman island chain. There are considered one of the Earth’s last un contacted peoples. Their entire tribe is believed to number several dozen people. So isolated are they that there is one picture of a near naked native once aiming an arrow at a circling plane. Yet in spite of their animosity Chau dared to walk into their territory, Bible in hand, only to be killed.
After news had broken out of Chaus death, opinion was divided. For his sending mission organization, Survival International, Chau was a martyr who lost his life trying to fulfill the Great Commission. But there were many who disputed blaming him for being reckless and just courting with fire. He had made two previous attempts before and in spite of presenting gifts that included “tweezers, scissors, cord, safety pins, fish hooks” the Sentinels had shown no interest. On a third attempt to penetrate them he did not survive their storm of arrows.
We might not resolve here if Chau’s action was heroic or, it was a foolhardy move causing in his father’s words an “unexpected death.” One thing though we might here agree on is that Christ warned his disciples when going out to share the Gospel to be discreet, as today’s verse indicates. The implication here is that we must understand the world we live in, its peoples; at times we might need to be tactical if we are to go far in our mission.
There are many people hostile to Christians as with the Sentinels. Some do harbor “arrows” that can push Christians out of jobs, land then in jail for violating laws they have put in place, and even kill. Perhaps, other than being confrontational and combative, we might pause to ask the Lord to give us wisdom how best to reach such. After all, what use is putting oneself deliberately in harm’s way with susceptible results!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, today I pray for wisdom in my daily walks of life and in whatever I happen to do.
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
