Wolves In Sheep's Clothing

Aren't these the cutest little animals? They look so innocent and without harm. Did you know that Jesus spoke quite often about us being like sheep? One of the things he did speak about is to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. He was so explicit about it that he gave a warning to his followers and to us that we have to be aware that there are those who claim they come from him, but are not. Matthew 7 records his teachings on this matter...

"Matthew 7:
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (NIV)

Although the warning that Jesus gives is very strong, he further tells us that when he sends us out into the world we are to be as sheep, but to also be "shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."(Matthew 10: 16) (NIV)

When I read this, I wondered... "does that mean Jesus does not want us to just 'let things go'... to 'follow the crowd'... to not just "allow things to continue as they have?" And then I realized that in the last verse Matthew 10:16 he was speaking to his disciples warning them of what they will encounter after he is gone. What they (we) must do to continue with the spreading of the gospel. And although we now have freedoms that his followers didn't have, we still carry Jesus' cross in all that we do... no matter what we are doing... whether it's to the office... to the classroom... to the byways.... to the hospital... to the market place... or even in our homes. We are to guard and protect that which God has given. As scary and as hard as I find that to be, it is something I/we must do in order to further God's kingdom. We can not take for granted that everyone we meet that claims to be from God (Christian) are. There are many wolves in sheep's clothing walking among us.