What happens when we're infected?
We're all growing (or should be). Improvement, learned lessons, gaining in understanding. All of these things mark a life of someone intent on getting something out of life (or potentially just going through the motions).
We have yet to talk about various categories or types of spirits. All spirits have certain fruit and generally characteristics tied to the fruit manifest (show up) in ways which we're already familiar from life experience. Typically the manifestations may be out of character for us, OR if people are used to us being a certain way, they'll be "in character" (even if that character isn't who we were created to be; who'd we be in Christ).
Sometimes we may struggle with a certain sin, habit, or thought pattern that generally wouldn't be a thorn in our side. Perhaps we're trying to overcome a certain roadblock or obstacle in our life and no matter what we try things stay the same.
"What happens" can fit anywhere on a spectrum from seemingly benign to extremely harmful. Just because we don't display extreme manifestations doesn't mean we aren't infected. Do you have to be coughing / sneezing to know you have a cold?
It's often the more subtle manifestations we take as being normal. Little things can become bigger things.
In Gal 5:19-26 there are examples of what can potentially happen when we're infected, as well as what can happen when we're led by the Spirit (which has different fruit in opposition to spirits which are not of God). A good question to ask: Can one display the fruit of the Spirit (in varying degrees), as well as fruit of unGodly spirits (in varying degrees) simultaneously?
No comments:
Post a Comment