A good and insightful read

https://punchng.com/why-nigeri....a-holds-a-special-pl

The phrase “wise as serpents” comes from Jesus’ words in the Bible (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.”

What does it really mean. Lets explore it

1. Wisdom with Discernment

The serpent is a symbol of shrewdness and carefulness.

Being “wise as serpents” means using discernment, foresight, and caution in dealing with people and situations.

It’s about being alert, not naive, and understanding human motives.


2. Strategic Thinking

A serpent doesn’t attack recklessly; it moves with calculation and only strikes when necessary.

This wisdom suggests we should think before acting, plan carefully, and avoid unnecessary danger.


3. Awareness of Evil

Since serpents can represent cunning, Jesus teaches us to be aware of the schemes of the enemy (spiritual or human).

To survive “among wolves,” one must recognize deceit without becoming deceitful.


4. Balance with Innocence

The instruction is not just to be “wise as serpents” but also “harmless as doves.”

This balance means combining intelligence and strategy with purity and gentleness—smart but not manipulative, cautious but not cruel.


👉 In short: To be wise as serpents is to live with spiritual intelligence—discerning, alert, and strategic—yet guided by innocence and integrity, not corruption.

Thank you for reading. You can put in the comment practical everyday examples of how someone can live “wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove”

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH 2025

TOPIC: MERE CRITIC OR ACTIVIST WITH SOLUTIONS

MEMORIZE:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

BIBLE READING: 1 KINGS 17:1-16

1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.

MESSAGE:
It is commonly said that statues are never built in honour of critics. While it is not bad to criticise people who are not doing what they ought to be doing, you must not just stop there.

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. (1 Kings 17:1)

In the Scripture above, we see that Elijah started out as a critic. The king wasn't behaving in the right manner, and just like any critic, Elijah walked into the palace and confronted him. However, he didn't stop there; he moved on to become a vessel that God used to provide for the needs of a poor widow and her son (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Would you rather become a mere critic or an activist whom God will use to put solutions forward? Would you be content with only carrying placards and protesting or also becoming so wealthy that you can feed the hungry? Carrying placards and protesting will attract the attention of the people you are criticising. However, beyond that, you must grow to a point where you can recommend and even provide some of the solutions you are demanding. Don't just become a critic that challenges those in authority; grow to the point where your impact cannot be ignored.

This message is particularly for youths. They should learn from Moses who thought he could fulfil his destiny his own way, and as a result, he had to stay in the wilderness for another 40 years until he was ready. The positive change you want can happen, but you must be wise enough to let it happen in God's way. Matthew 10:16 says, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Christians need to be as strategic as serpents. The most dangerous thing about a serpent is its silence when it wants to attack its prey. When it attacks, the prey only realises it when it is already too late.

Beloved, be wise. God has a great destiny for you, but you must not let overzealousness prevent you from fulfilling your destiny. Rather than just being a mere noisemaker, increase your capacity so that you can indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Your zeal should be matched with the right knowledge and actions (Romans 10:1-2).

KEY POINT:
Don't just criticise things or people; become a part of the solution you desire to see.

BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: HOSEA 10 - 14

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMNAL 24 - I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

1. I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one mark'd an angry word,
That ever heard Him speak.

2. I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain top,
He met his Father there.

3. I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find That He, though persecuted was To anyone unkind.

4. I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good;
So that of me it may be said
"He hath done what he could."

5. I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
"Let little children come to Me;" I would obey the call.

6. But oh I'm not like Jesus,
As anyone may see; o gentle Saviour, send Thy grace,
And make me like to Thee.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TOPIC : YOU CAN GO HIGHER

DATE : THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2025

MEMORISE : “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” - (Matthew 5:6)

READ : Psalm 63:1-5 (KJV)

1. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

2. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

3. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

4. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
Amos 1-4

MESSAGE :

No matter how high you have gone in God, you can go even higher. However, only those who are hungry for more will go higher. People who settle easily cannot move higher because they either think they have enough or lack the capacity or ability to achieve more.

I once travelled to Rivers, a state in Southern Nigeria, and ministered in several locations within the state. In one of the locations, while I was ministering, I laid my hands on some sick people. When I finished, I wanted to wash my hands, so two ladies brought water and soap for me - one was carrying a bowl of soapy water, and the other was carrying a bowl with clean water. As I was washing my hands inside the bowl of soapy water, I sensed in my spirit that the lady carrying the bowl was hungry for the anointing. Suddenly, I felt the anointing of God flowing from me into the water, then through the bowl and into her hands. Suddenly, she began to vibrate violently, and someone had to quickly take the bowl from her hands. The people around quickly got her a chair to sit on, but she continued shaking under the influence of the anointing. The interesting thing was that the anointing was still in the water and in the bowl, but the person who took the bowl from her did not feel anything. He didn't feel anything because he was not hungry for more. Hunger attracts greater levels of the anointing and draws people into higher realms in God. Those who are hungry for more of God are always willing to pay the price. They don't complain when it is time to fast or grumble when it is time to pray. Because they are hungry, they are willing and ready to do all it takes to go higher.

Are you hungry for more of God? Do you wish to go higher in God? Indeed, in John 7:37, it is those who thirst that Jesus invited to drink from Him. However, He also said you must come to Him before you can drink from Him. A lot of people talk about how they long to go higher; however, when the time comes to do what it takes to come to Him, they are the first to say that they can't fast, pray, or study their Bibles for long.

Beloved, thirst to go higher in God, but also be prepared to give what it takes.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please fill my heart with great hunger for more. Help me pay the price to go higher, in Jesus' name.

AUTHOR : PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE

HYMN 8 - I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

1. I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

CHORUS:

I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee!
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee!

2. I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.

3. I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide
Or life is vain.

4. I need Thee every hour,
Teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfill.

5. I need Thee every hour,
Most Holy one;
Oh, make me Thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!

The 7 types
1. The fool
2. The habitual user
3. The ungrateful
4. The manipùlator
5. The lazy
6. The Rebellion
7. The spiritually toxic

Interesting

This is a very good read on Stablecoins

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pres....s/key/date/2020/html

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