Snakes and Doves

There seems to be no connection between snakes and doves, and yet when we are walking in the Christian faith, God gives us a very clear direction to be like both snakes and doves.
In Matthew 10, Jesus is sending out His disciples to do ministry. He gives them clear direction on what they should do, and what they should expect while ministering.
In verse 16, He warns them that they will be venturing into a den of wolves dressed in sheep's clothing and it is because of this that He tells them, "be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
What exactly does it mean to be as shrewd as a snake?
In Genesis 3:1 it describes the serpent (or the snake) as "more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made."
In other words, the serpent was shrewd.
As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to be shrewd is to be marked by clever discerning awareness; to be given to wily and artful ways or dealings.
It is this shrewdness that gives us insight into peoples lives. We see the problem where the problem lies. We call the crap like we see it.
Discernment. It only comes to us when we seek after God's own heart. Only then are we able to see what He points out to us.
As Christians, we are to be shrewd in the sense that we are sensible. We are to be prudent. But at the same time we are not to be deceitful.
We are to be innocent as doves.
World wide, the dove is seen as an image of peace. It is simple, lovely, innocent.
Innocence is freedom from guilt or sin. It is to be blameless.
Blameless like Christ was blameless.
People should look at us and see God's glory shining through.

Be shrewd. Be innocent.
Be a snake, but be a dove at the same time.