When a supporting character in a video game gives us instructions it is typically designed to be helpful, acting as in-game representative of the game developer to give us clues on how to solve a problem or encouraging us to try a specific technique to advance. But when this “friendly advice” is given in a demanding manner, it only leads to frustration and rejection. For example, the more I heard Peppy bark out “Do a Barrel Roll!” in StarFox 64, the more I wanted to do everything BUT a barrel roll because of the way he was communicating it. Peppy had positive intentions but suffered from flawed execution, so his guidance came across in an unhelpful way.

When the Lord reveals His truth to our hearts it is an exciting feeling, but in our zeal to share it with others who may not have received that specific enlightenment or direction yet, we can sound a lot like Peppy urgently commanding us to do a “barrel roll”. For those who haven’t yet chosen to follow Christ, the path we are on makes very little sense and our directional guidance simply doesn’t compute. His eternal wisdom sounds foolish until His Spirit brings His words to life, so let’s share what He’s placed on our hearts with love while patiently showing those we are trying to reach the same grace that He has shown us. 

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

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