Text: 1 Corinthians 14:20

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding:  howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.    

Tuesday, 10^th September 2024

THE INNOCENCE OF A DOVE

Text: 1 Corinthians 14:20

Memory verse: Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Christ foretells the danger of the gospel mission, "Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves." The Apostles were going about a glorious, but hazardous work. They would meet with enemies as fierce and violent as wolves. As all who will live godly in Christ shall meet with sufferings, so commonly Christ's ambassadors encounter the deepest trials. Most of the Apostles died by the hands of tyrants. Peter was crucified with his head downwards. Luke the Evangelist was executed on an olive-tree. John was cast by Domitian into a vessel of boiling oil. The emperor Maximinus gave charge to his officers to put none to death, but the leaders and pastors of the church. The ministers are Christ's flag-bearers to carry His colours; therefore, they are most shot at. They hold forth His truth. Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:17, "I am set for the defence of the gospel." A soldier who is set in the forefront of the battle and has all the bullets flying about his ears. The minister's work is to part between men and their sins, and this causes opposition. When Paul preached against Diana, all the city was in an uproar, Acts 29. This may stir up prayer for Christ's ministers, that they may be able to withstand the assaults of the enemy, 2 Thessalonians 3:2.

We should be as doves for INNOCENCE. The innocence of the dove is seen in two things: Not to deceive and not to hurt. As the dove is without irritation, so it is without cunning. It does not deceive. We should be as the dove, without fraud and craft. A holy simplicity is commendable, Romans 16:19, "I would have you simple concerning evil." To be a bungler at sin, not to have the art to entice, is a good simplicity; as Nathaniel, in whose spirit there is no craftiness, John 1:47. Where is this dovelike innocence to be found? We live in an age where there are more foxes than doves. People are full of deceit; they study nothing but deceit, so that one knows how to deal with them. Psalm 12:2, "With a double heart do they speak."

The dove has no horns or fingernails to hurt, only wings to defend itself by flight. Other creatures are commonly well-armed: the lion has its stroke, the boar its horn, the ram its horns, but the dove is a most harmless creature. It has nothing with which to offend. We should be as doves for harmlessness. We should not do wrong to others, but rather suffer wrong ourselves. Such a dove was Samuel, 1 Samuel 12:3, "Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded?" He did not get men's estates into his hands or raise himself upon the ruins of others. How rare is it to find such doves? Surely, they are flown away! How many birds of prey are there! Micah 7:2, "Godly people have vanished from the land; there is no one upright among the people." These are not doves but vultures! They travail with mischief and are in pain until they bring forth.

CGDS HYMN 6; SS&S 201:

SPIRIT DIVINE, ATTEND OUR PRAYERS

1. Spirit divine, attend our prayers,

and make this house thy home;

descend with all thy gracious powers,

come, great Spirit, come!

2. Come as the light; to us reveal

our emptiness and woe,

and lead us in those paths of life

whereon the righteous go.

3. Come as the fire and purge our hearts

like sacrificial flame;

let our whole soul an offering be

to our Redeemer's Name.

4. Come as the dove, and spread thy wings,

the wings of peaceful love;

and let thy Church on earth become

blest as the Church above.

5. Come as the dew and sweetly bless

this consecrated hour;

may barrenness rejoice to own

thy fertilizing power.

6. Spirit divine, attend our prayers,

make a lost world thy home;

descend with all thy gracious powers;

come, great Spirit, come!

 Prayers

1.  Lord Jesus, train me to become harmless in me always.

2.  LORD God Almighty, help me not to be deceitful to defraud the flocks and the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.