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This past week I spent a little over 45 minutes with an allergy specialist to determine if I
have any specific allergies with which to be concerned. After receiving the equivalent of about 64 needle pricks, it was determined that I indeed am allergic to grass. Somewhat disconcerting, but nothing that can’t be handled. Thank you for your concerns and prayers over the past several weeks.
After receiving the diagnosis of allergies, I began to compare with allergies in the church. I know, that seems to be a large leap, but on further consideration you may see some of the same similarities as I did.
There are all sorts of allergies found in the church. There are those who are allergic to reading the Bible and to prayer. Those allergic to Bible class and worship attendance. There are those who are allergic to serving in any capacity. There are those who are allergic to taking on leadership roles in worship and strong allergic reactions to the possibility of teaching a class. These are just a few of the possible allergies Christians may have in their lives (no doubt there are many more that could be identified).
And just like allergies which are identified in our physical bodies, with just a brief “exam,” we can determine if we have allergies in our spiritual walk with Christ. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5)! I will not suggest that testing our faith according to God’s Word is less painful than needle pricks in the doctor’s office, but much more precise when we sincerely compare our lives with the holiness of God (1 Peter 1:14-16). It does demand time in His Word!
The possible treatments for physical allergies may or may not bring about the desired relief from said allergies, but when we follow the prescription of God’s Word, we are guaranteed a great reward! The cure begins with denying ourselves (Luke 9:23), pursuing after the holiness of God (Hebrews 12:14), and committing our way to the Lord (Galatians 2:20). But it all begins with being honest with ourselves that we actually have a problem. Unfortunately, our senses may have become so dulled to our spiritual allergies, we don’t even see the obvious.
“And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than wen we believed” (Romans 13:11).
Paul Mowrer
Monticello, AR