Sent as Sheep Among Wolves: The Cost and Promise of Following Christ

There's something profoundly sobering about counting the cost before embarking on a journey. When we consider the call to follow Christ and make Him known in the world, we're confronted with a reality that modern Christianity often glosses over: discipleship is costly, uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous.

Yet it's also the most rewarding adventure we could ever undertake.

The Ancient Command, Still Relevant Today
From the very beginning, God's people have been called not merely to know Him, but to make Him known. In Isaiah 43:10, God declares to Israel: "You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He."

This wasn't a suggestion for the spiritually elite. It was the fundamental identity of God's chosen people.

Fast forward to the New Testament, and we find Jesus issuing the same commission to His followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

The question we must ask ourselves is simple but piercing: If we can rely on teenagers to answer this call and go to foreign lands with the gospel, who's next? The silence that often follows such a question reveals something uncomfortable about our commitment level.

Wisdom in the Face of Danger
In Matthew 10, Jesus doesn't sugarcoat the reality of what His followers will face. His words are startling: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves."

Sheep.

Among wolves.

The imagery couldn't be clearer. Sheep are slow, vulnerable, unaware—perfect prey for one of nature's most efficient predators. Should this reality cause us to retreat to the safety of our comfortable lives? Should we keep our faith neatly contained within church walls?

Jesus answers with instructions, not exemptions: "Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

Consider the serpent's wisdom. Before striking, a snake assesses its environment. It blends in, observes, identifies shelter, and evaluates opportunities. It doesn't announce its presence with fanfare. There's a lesson here about strategic thinking in our witness.

We're called to be thoughtful, prayerful, and discerning—learning the landscape around us before rushing in unprepared.

But we're also to be innocent as doves. Throughout Scripture, the dove represents peace, purity, and the Holy Spirit. When Noah sent out a dove from the ark, it returned with an olive branch—a message of peace. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. We carry this same Spirit as we go into the world, representing not ourselves but the God of peace and purity.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Following Jesus
Here's where the message gets difficult. Jesus doesn't promise comfort. In fact, He promises the opposite:

"You will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake... Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child... You will be hated by all for my name's sake."

These aren't hypotheticals. Throughout history and even today, Christians around the world face persecution, rejection, and death for their faith. We in America live in relative comfort, often approaching church as something that should make us feel good on Sunday mornings. We want motivating music, encouraging sermons, and pleasant fellowship.

But Jesus asks us to count the cost. In Luke 14, He says plainly: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

This isn't about literal hatred of family. It's about priorities. Following Christ must supersede every other relationship and commitment in our lives. That's costly. That's uncomfortable. That's Christianity.

The Fear That Holds Us Back
If we're honest, the biggest obstacle to fulfilling the Great Commission isn't busyness or lack of opportunity.

It's fear.

We fear we're not smart enough, articulate enough, or knowledgeable enough to share our faith effectively. We worry about saying the wrong thing or being unable to answer difficult questions. We're afraid of rejection, ridicule, or conflict.

But consider this: God has only imperfect people to work with. Moses was a murderer with a speech impediment, yet he confronted Pharaoh. David was an adulterer and murderer, yet he wrote psalms that have comforted millions. Peter denied Jesus three times, yet became a bold preacher who turned the world upside down.

God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called.

Jesus addresses our fear directly in Matthew 10:19-20: "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

This doesn't mean we shouldn't study Scripture or prepare ourselves. Rather, it means that when we've filled ourselves with God's Word, when the moment comes to speak, the Spirit will bring to mind exactly what we need.

Where Do We Go From Here?
Making disciples doesn't always mean traveling to foreign countries. It starts with a simple "hi" to your neighbor. It's a conversation at work, a prayer offered at a hospital, a word of encouragement on the ball field. Wherever your feet take you, you're on mission.
The question is: Are you willing to go?

Three things should motivate us in this calling:

Supernatural bravery. God promises He will never leave us or forsake us. What we lack in natural courage, He supplies through His presence and power.

Hope of reward. What greater reward exists than eternal life with God? And what greater joy than seeing others come to know Him through our witness?

Love for God. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commands." Our obedience flows from love, not fear. When we truly know Him, we're driven to make Him known.

The one who endures to the end will be saved. This isn't about earning salvation through works, but about genuine faith producing genuine obedience. True love for Christ compels us outward, not inward.

The Promise at the End
Yes, following Jesus is costly. Yes, it's uncomfortable. Yes, we may face opposition, rejection, or worse.

But we're not alone in this mission. The same God who protected and provided throughout history walks with us today. The same Spirit who empowered the early church empowers us now.

The world around us is filled with people desperately needing the hope, peace, and truth found only in Christ. They're dying—physically and spiritually—without ever hearing the good news.

Will you sit on the sidelines, or will you stand up and fight? Will you keep your faith safely contained, or will you step out in bold obedience?

The command is clear. The promise is certain. The choice is yours.

Go.