Lay Down With Dogs You Will Get Fleas

For the past two weeks, I’ve been talking about Lucy Lu, my little rescue pup. I’m calling this the Lucy Series, and I’m continuing this series again today. If you’ve not read the first two posts, here they are for you:

• Sitting At My Feet With Adoration In Her Eyes
• Letting Life’s Distractions Lead You Astray

Lucy is like all dogs that go outside to potty; she constantly battles fleas. I try to make sure that I regularly apply flea medicine to her to keep the fleas in check. But, sometimes, a flea will get on her and come into the house before the medicine has time to kill it. I will find a tiny bite on me when that happens since she is always under my feet.

My mother always told me, “If you lie down with dogs, you will get fleas.” I bet you have heard that saying before. This old saying implies that the companions you keep will rub off on you.

We are easily swayed by our “friends” and acquaintances if we are not careful. It can be a slippery slope when we associate with people that we know are doing wrong. You can look at this situation in two different ways. They can be a bad influence on you, OR you can be a good influence on them.

Peer pressure is nothing new. We have been influenced by others since the beginning, and I mean “the beginning” of time. The first time you see someone being swayed by another is in the case of Eve. She was swayed from what she was told because the devil was able to convince her otherwise. Then she, in turn, influenced Adam to follow her path and go against what he had also been told.

I remember once, when I worked outside the home, a young man who went to school with my kids came into the store. It had been two years since I had seen him because he had been in jail. I spoke to him and asked how he was doing. While we talked, I mentioned to him that he needed to ensure he stayed away from anyone he was associating with before he went to jail. He assured me he had cut those people from his life before leaving the store.

1 Corinthians 15:33

³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Proverbs 13:20

²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Psalm 1:1-2

¹ Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Peer pressure is nothing new, and unfortunately, it will probably be around until the end of time. So, be vigilant in your choice of friends and those you choose to associate with. Be a light to others, but be careful not to stumble and fall. Call out to the Lord and ask for his guidance. Matthew 5:16 reminds us to:

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!