The Foolish Frog

Some people have minds and hearts that are so full of themselves that they see people around them as objects.  A person’s value is based primarily on whether he or she is in agreement with their way of thinking and doing things, and secondly whether he or she has power or influence to promote the narcissist.  Their motives are easily disguised with smiles and friendly chatter but if you follow their history it is full of havoc and trouble.  

Making friends with such a person is like the frog who asked for a ride across the river on the back of an alligator.  The frog never reached the other side.

Peter gives us insight on how to interact with the narcissist.  “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God” (1 Peter 2:15).  Notice he does not say this will make them your friends, but that it will silence them.

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13).

“ordinance - noun

1 a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority: a city ordinance banned smoking in nearly all types of restaurants.

2 an authoritative order; a decree.”

We may not like the ordinance.   We may not think the ordinance is fair, and it may not be.  But unless it is in direct disobedience to God’s law, we are to obey it.

Notice the correlation with  the Lord’s sake.  Our obedience or disobedience has a direct reflection on the reputation of God’s children, not just you as his individual child (1 Peter 2:12-13).

Inner Wars

Peter warns believers not to give into fleshly  lusts because they war against the soul. (1 Peter 2:11).  Paul writes that the flesh and spirit are at war with one another (Galatians 5:17).  He warns in Romans “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).

It is so easy to live according to the flesh.  You simply do whatever you want to do regardless of the circumstances, long or short repercussions to self or anyone else.  It is difficult to put to death the sinful or out of control desires of our bodies or emotions.  To do that there is almost always suffering (Hebrews 5:5-8)

The end result putting to death lusts of the flesh is worth it though (Hebrews 12:11).

Pocket Flashlights

I have a tiny light that fits on a key chain.  It has a handle that pulls out that you must wind up in order for the light to shine.  I can never seem to wind it up enough to make the light shine brightly. At a camp sight the tiny flashlight barely illuminates the path to the public washroom.  

My father has a light the same size that holds a battery.  If he shines that light into your eyes it temporarily blinds you.

Our interactions with others are to bring forth the praises of God who brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9).  

If you were using the illustration of the two flashlights to teach about the verse in First Peter, what other spiritual point could you make with these two flashlights?