“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (Philippians 2:14-15 NLT)
Philippians 2:15 in the King James Version of the Bible says: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” What first comes to your mind when you think of “harmless.” A young child, puppy, kitten, an elderly person, someone who is very weak, a dove?
Jesus said in Matthew 10:16: “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” What was Jesus suggesting? That we be the proverbial “doormat” that everyone walks on or of whom others take advantage? Was Jesus a doormat? Did He let others take advantage of Him? Of course not! He was “shrewd as a snake and harmless as a dove.”
So, what’s He asking of us? To be like Him! But how? The word Jesus used that is translated “harmless” in many of our English translations means: “Simple” in the sense of uncomplicated. We say what we mean and mean what we say. It means “unmixed, pure as in wines or metals; of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent.”
From the time I first owned my first car I’ve taken as good care of it as I knew how. I kept it clean, changed the oil, checked the tire pressure regularly, and had it serviced when something was needed. So, when it came time to sell the car, I had all the service records and could honestly say it had been taken care of over the life of my ownership.
When I sell something, I want to be “harmless” to the person to whom I am selling whatever it is. That’s the way I want to be when I present the Gospel to someone. When I explain to them their sin is separating them from God and Jesus is the only way back to Him and the only way to heaven, while those are bold claims, when they stand before the Lord, I want to be blameless in the Lord’s eyes, having been honest with those with whom I’ve shared.
We, as Jesus lovers and followers, must be crystal clear when sharing with others the Truth of who Jesus is and what He did. One fear that I have is that I will be too “soft,” by not expressing the urgency of the matter with enough intensity or boldness. The last thing I want to happen is someone to believe their walking away from Jesus is harmless. “Of what consequence is this to me? I’m a good person. Yes, I understand there are those who need a Savior, but I’m not one of them!”
According to Scripture there is “None righteous, no not one!” (Romans 3:10) EVERYBODY NEEDS A SAVIOR AND JESUS IS THE ONLY SAVIOR! We must compassionately, but clearly and forthrightly present the claims of the Gospel, compelling people to come to Jesus while there’s still time. “But I’m not ready?” Ready for what? To turn from your sin? No one ever is! That’s the point. Satan’s favorite line is “Not now!” or “There’s a better time!” “You have more life to live!” or “You’ve waited too long! You’re just too far gone!” All of these lies must be challenged and, as the Lord gives us wisdom, overcome to His glory and to the good of the one with whom we’re speaking.
Time is short. We have no promise of the next second. We must be about our Father’s business of sharing Jesus with anyone who will listen. We must be harmless as doves, but bold as lions for the Lord.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 