We can not afford to have any rose-tinted views of mission. This applied to the disciples and still applies today. Jesus said He was sending them out as sheep among wolves. We are in a spiritual battle, therefore there will be spiritual attack. Now spiritual attack will usually take very concrete forms.
So how are we to handle this situation? We are to be shrewd and innocent. We are not to be naive, we should have our eyes open to the reality of what people can be like, what authorities can be like. At the same time we are not indulge in the same manipulative and deceitful tactics that the world might employ.
Jesus then tells them plainly that there will be times when they are handed over to men and flogged. Now, as far as we know, this did not happen to them on this particular trip, but we certainly do read of it happening in Acts on several occasions.
When it does happen the natural reaction is to look to ourselves, to think that we are the focus of attack. The truth is that we are witnesses on Jesus' behalf. This, if you like, is the downside of being a disciple of Christ. The upside is that at the right time the Holy Spirit will give the wisdom and words that are needed. We are to live as Christ's ambassadors.
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