"Have You Sneezed Yet?"

 

“Have You Sneezed Yet?”

 

(The title comes from an Our Daily Bread devotional article many years ago. I don’t recall its main point but I’m adapting the idea to the thoughts expressed here. For another look at the theme see “Allergy Shots”.)

 

Spring arrives earlier in Florida than it does up north (if it ever leaves except for the scorching days of summer). So one of the things Karen and I enjoy most about living in Lakeland is seeing the colors of flowers and trees year round. But with the good comes the effects of pollen: the precipitation of allergies causing itchy eyes, breathing problems and the frequent explosive exhaling of air from the nose and mouth, commonly called sneezing.

An allergy can be defined as “a hypersensitive bodily reaction to environmental factors or substances…in amounts that do not affect most people”. Because of certain peculiarities in my body chemistry I’m susceptible to a variety of materials which, when present, bring no response in others but do in me. Something in me triggers my system and “Achoo!”—you get the idea. (Gesundheit!)

This “rite of spring” has parallels with how different people react to the Scriptures. Those who don’t hold to biblical truth are insensitive to it—they show no response. Why? “…People who aren’t Christians can’t understand…truths from God’s Spirit….” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT). On the other hand, those who believe the Word to be from God and that it’s His source of truth exhibit sensitivity to its principles and commands (“…If you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law…and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”—James 1:25, NLT). What makes the difference? Just as my body’s sensitivity to certain airborne particles causes me to sneeze, so my awareness to what God says should prompt me to respond in faith and obedience. So…have I sneezed yet? Have you?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan