Three in the morning is a good time to lie awake thinking about allergies. I have numerous significant food allergies as well as environmental allergies. Something I ate the day before caused a reaction that kept me awake.
An allergic reaction is the body’s immune system reacting to a substance that is deemed harmful. Sometimes, substances that are not viral or infectious set off the immune system and an allergic reaction is born.
Allergic reactions range in cause and severity. Some food allergies are so dangerous that the person avoids that food at all costs and carries an epi pen. Other allergens such as dust or animal dander can make you sick but are treatable with daily medication. Another category of reaction is a short and temporary nuisance that is overcome quickly, such as sprinkling pepper on food and sneezing.
We take care of our bodies when they encounter potentially harmful substances or have an adverse reaction. We avoid certain triggering substances and take medication for other reactions. If it makes us sick, we do what we need to do to maintain our health.
Do we take care of our spirit when it encounters potentially harmful environments? Are we doing what we need to do to take care of our spiritual health?
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Categories of Spiritual Allergies
The first category of spiritual allergies are the deadly allergens, things that bring death to the spirit. Unbelief, unforgiveness, hatred, unrepentant attitudes, immorality, participation in evil and worldliness, words from an unloving and unbelieving heart. These are all products of a spirit without the presence of the Holy Spirit. When a believer participates in these things, it brings death to the life of faith.
When scripture teaches us to separate from these things, it is for the protection of the life of our spirit within us. Our faith is in the resurrected Lord Jesus. By his mercy, we are forgiven, and our devotion belongs to him. .
“Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness?” 2 Cor 6:14.
The second category of spiritual allergens are the environmental irritants that make our spirit sickly. This spiritual sickness is in the realm of lukewarm Christianity. Instead of confessing and repenting of the things we do or don’t do that offend the Holy Spirit, we self-medicate; travel, work, TV, social media, alcohol, food, a busy life that ignores the spiritual self.
Instead of allowing the Lord to heal and transform our sickness, we cover, ignore, and pretend we are fine. But we are sick. Because of God’s kindness through Jesus Christ, we can honestly confess our inner selves and trust in His mercy and grace.
Our hope is in Christ. Healing begins with humble confession. We trust in the blood of Jesus.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Heb 4:16 NLT
The third category of spiritual allergens are the irritants that cause a reaction contrary to the life of the Holy Spirit within us. This can be something like a personality conflict, road rage at the stop sign, unkind responses on the internet, dislike of someone’s point of view. These irritants last only a few moments, cause a reaction, then are gone.
The danger of these spiritual allergens is that they can make us unChristlike in the moment. We respond with something other than the love of Jesus. The goal we strive for every day is to live in the Holy Spirit in such a way that our response to everything is the love of Jesus.
Conclusion
We will miss the mark. We will mess up.
Our faith is in the resurrected life of our Lord Jesus.
Our hope is in the goodness and mercy of Jesus to forgive.
Our goal is to love like Jesus.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor:13:13
Copyright @ TA Boland 2024
Image: TA Boland
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