Wise as serpents

“So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”- Matthew 10:16 (NIV)

As John Ortberg continues Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go, he emphasizes that Jesus wasn’t a “well-intentioned dreamer who floated serenely above human difficulties and reality.”  Jesus really was serious about getting His work done.

Pastor Ortberg notes that part of wholeheartedness is putting all of yourself in, mind and talents included.  Spiritual devotion to Jesus is essential, but we also must be willing to face up to reality- thinking about strategy, tactics, and being effective in extending the kingdom of God.  We need to be wise as serpents- a prevailing thought in Jesus’ day.

John adds that we must be wise as serpents in order to know what doors God might open up for us.  Open doors call for a high degree of learning and awareness.  To effectively discern our calling or vocation in life, vocational expert Andy Chan states we must master (a) knowing ourselves and (b) knowing the world we want to impact.  Four types of people result from combinations of these factors:

1. Hermit– high in self-awareness but low in world awareness; keeps thoughts and feelings to self


2. Chameleon– highly aware of surrounding world but low in self-awareness; just blends in


3. Clueless– low in both self-awareness and world awareness


4. Change agent– deeply aware of self and deeply aware of world around him/her; wise as serpents

Today’s question: Which of the four knowledge descriptions most accurately reflect your current mind-set?  Please share.

Coming Tuesday: new Short Meditation, “Till the sky spills over”

Tomorrow’s blog: “Innocent as doves”

Wise as serpents

Discerning wholeheartedness

“Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.”- 2 Chronicles 25:1-2 (NRSV)

“I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”- Acts 13:22 (NIV)

In Chapter 6 of All the Places to Go, John Ortberg quips that he can’t imagine a coach standing before his/her team and saying, “Now go out and give it . . . most of what you’ve got.”  However, Pastor Ortberg observes, at times people try to “walk through high-challenge doors with low-level commitment.”  Just the opposite is needed- greater wholeheartedness.

Yes, there could be an expectation that we’ll voluntarily suffer loss, sacrifice our comfort, give up our time, or humble our pride.  Sacrifice is involved when we must choose one thing over another.

One hundred percent commitment really boils down to where our hearts truly are.  Finessing commitment, as Amaziah did, won’t work.  John concludes with five questions to help us in discerning wholeheartedness:

1.  Do I talk about commitment to other people to create a kind of public accountability for my actions?

2.  Do I own the responsibility to grow?

3.  Do I complain about difficulties in a way that can subtly rationalize a halfhearted involvement?

4.  Do I deal with discouragements by talking with God and asking for strength to persevere?

5.  Do I recognize and celebrate even small steps in the right direction?

Today’s question: Which of Pastor Ortberg’s five questions holds the most significance for you?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Jesus’ instructions”

 

Discerning wholeheartedness