Matthew 10:12-16

¹² As you enter the house, greet it.

¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your blessing of peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your blessing of peace return to you.

¹⁴ And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

¹⁶ “See, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents as well as innocent as doves.

_________________________________________

workers need both wisdom and innocence

The twelve could expect rejection and opposition, even violence. That is why they had to be wise about who they approached. They had to be cautious like a serpent to whom everyone is deadly. Those who would not listen were to be left, and the LORD would judge them. But the workers needed to be innocent, honest, people of integrity. They were sheep sent out to witness to wolves. Without integrity, they would never win the lost to Christ.

LORD, give us wisdom to seek the lost who are seeking to be found, and the integrity we need to show them how to be found.