Allergy: October 15, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2014.

ALLERGY

DEFINITION:

An overreaction of the immune system to a previously encountered harmless substance resulting in skin rash, swelling, sneezing or wheezing; having an allergy to something.

SCRIPTURE:

Abstain from every form of evil. I Thessalonians 5:22.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

You may ask or think that this is a strange word for a devotional. When we hear the word allergy we think of the symptoms of sneezing, coughing, itching, rashes and swelling that are results from contact with things that our immune system cannot handle. The best defense against these allergies is to avoid contact with those things our immune system cannot cope with.

We have several children and grandchildren along with Dottie that have somewhat chronic cases of allergies. We can see how they are detrimental to their health. Some take medication and others even use breathers to help conquer the discomfort they face with these physical allergies. For some the allergies come from food, some from plants and for others it is just something in the air. It is not easy to avoid things that cause allergies, particularly things that we cannot see.

We also face spiritual allergies in life and we need to be able to recognize them and stay away from them to protect our relationship with the Lord.

As believers we constantly face dangers in our lives that some may call spiritual allergies. In the scripture above Paul is telling us to avoid every form of evil. What is evil? Anything that is ungodly and unbiblical is evil. Satan does everything in his power to bring us in contact with evil. He uses his power of temptation to attract us to evil. He uses his power of deceit to convince us that evil is all right. He also uses false teachers to keep us from knowing what is evil.

When you go to the doctor to find out how to cope with a physical allergy, the doctor will test for the cause and then tell you to stay away from the things that are bad for you and the cause of your allergy. This is also the Apostle Paul’s advice to us about evil. Stay away from what is bad. In I Thessalonians 5:21, Paul says, “test everything and hold onto the good.”

Paul is telling us to analyze all of our activities. What we find to be good we should embrace whole heartily. What we find as evil, bad, or unbiblical we should stay away from at all times. If we adhere to this advice it will lead us to make good choices in each day’s activities and choices that honor God.

When we take part of something that is evil it comes between us and God and our spiritual sensitivity is weakened. Unless we avoid the evil it will soon become a chronic sin and like an allergy we will have to fight it daily. As believers we need to avoid situations that lead us to do things that are evil in God’s sight.

Psalm 34:14 tells us to “Turn from evil and do good.” When we sin and do evil it is because we choose to do so. It is a conscious choice but God wants us to choose to turn from evil and choose to do good.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:

Lord, give me godly incite to discern what is evil and what is good. Give me the strength to resist the temptations that Satan uses to draw me to evil. Keep me diligent in testing everything so that I avoid evil and hold on to the good. Make my life shine in a way today to allow others fighting spiritual allergies to see Christ in and through me.