by Sniffle, cough, blow the nose, sniffle, cough again. Put on the mask, try to go through the store as if nothing is wrong. Do anything to keep others from thinking one might be contagious. Ah, the word of the century – contagious. I do not have to expound upon this word too much for its physical meaning as I believe we all can relate to this word since 2020.
Before we begin, I think it is good to review the scientific way a virus spreads.
“Viruses can’t reproduce without help from a living cell. They need to invade a cell in order to make more viruses.” [1] So, our contagious attitudes can’t spread unless we have someone to spread them to.
“Viruses can’t make new viruses on their own. Instead, they take over cells, and trick the cell into making new viruses. To enter the cell, a virus floats up to, or lands on a cell, then attaches to a receptor. Receptors are proteins on the surface of cells that act like locks. They will only fit a specific key. The sneaky virus has a copy of that key. Proteins on the virus’ surface are shaped just like the keys, and fit into a receptor. This starts a process that leads to the virus either entering the cell whole, or injecting its DNA or RNA into the cell.” [2]
However, I was pondering the spiritual meaning this word could have this morning. There are so many good and bad things we can be contagious about that aren’t physical but spiritual or mental.
For example:
- Parents can pass on certain attitudes, work ethics, personality characteristics (for example: a sense of humor), or other things to their children without even realizing they are doing so. My 2 daughters are grown, and my husband and I look at each other and say “Oh, they got _____ from you.” Thank the Lord, there aren’t any bad traits. We didn’t even notice it at the time they were growing up, but all our actions were contagious to our daughters.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
We all know this verse quite well, but have we sincerely pondered the meaning of it? If we are training someone, we perform the actions ourselves so the other person can learn what we are teaching. Our children mirror in their lives the actions they see in their parents.
I’ve seen people “train” others in various things over the years. Let’s take tennis for example. Both our girls took tennis lessons. I never saw the coach sitting on the side just yelling out instructions. I always saw him on the tennis courts playing tennis.
Here is an unusual thought, but I think it will get the point across. Let’s say the new tennis students walked onto the tennis courts and they knew literally nothing about tennis. They had never seen it played and didn’t know they needed a racket, small ball, and a net. Pretend they know nothing. Now, the coach walks onto the tennis courts, sets up bowling pins, gives them a bowling bowl, and proceeds to show them how to bowl; but tells them this is tennis. The students learn a new sport and go home to tell their parents all about their first tennis lesson. Well, we know, those parents would immediately go to that coach and straighten him out.
Okay, now, back to parents being contagious to their children. Just what are our children learning from us? What are they learning that we may not think they are learning? What actions are we making contagious to our children? Could others be looking at our children and thinking, “That personality trait in that child I see in their Mom or Dad, it is just accentuated more in the child.” Prayerfully people ‘see’ good traits and not ‘bad’ traits in our children.
Now, not every young adult, who makes bad decisions, can blame everything on their parents. That is what the world tries to do. At some point in time, every child becomes accountable for their own actions. This is just a thought, that we as parents need to be cautious in our own actions; so, the things we emanate and the things that are contagious to our children – are good things.
Parents “Train up a child in the way he should go…”
- Some people don’t care if they get another’s contagious disease. Who? Mothers! Being one and recently my daughter was quite ill. I slept with her in the living room and gave her medicines and hugs. The hugs were comforting to me even though I knew I’d probably get her contagious bug. Yes. I got it, but it doesn’t matter. I would do it again as a mother. That is what we Mothers do. We take care of the family not really caring too much about ourselves. Any decent Mother I have met over the years has this same mentality.
So
, let’s mimic mothers and their attraction to contagious people – their children. Let’s find others who need encouragement, help, or just hugs and let’s be a mother to that person in need. The world is doing so much to discredit Motherhood, we Christian Moms need to be Mothers and be caring for others – saved and unsaved.
Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day…”
- Contagious church members. I’ve been in churches that the majority of people seem to smile and be encouraging. I’ve also been in churches that the majority of people are frowning and just down-right discouraging to be around. You know what? These attitudes are contagious. If you are around a group of people for any length of time, no matter how hard you try, you will become like them. Their actions are so contagious that they don’t even realize how much they affect others. Two points to think about here:
- Be a church member who smiles and says encouraging things to others. Have good personality characteristics that are contagious to others.
- If you are on the list of discouragers and frowners, put this as a matter of prayer and seek God’s direction to help you. None of us, I believe, personally wake up and think, “I’m going to church today and I want to be discouraging.” However, many of us are and we don’t even realize it. We are contagious in a bad way.
Take time to analyze your actions and comments at church and see if you are contagious in a good way or if there are some things that need to be a matter of prayer. God can change personality characteristics even in the most stubborn of people. Just let him do it.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
The above verse comes after:
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
So, if we are thinking on the above things in Philippians 4:8, we can be contagious in a good way towards others.
Conclusion: Give me another minute and I will conclude with a case of contagious attitudes in the Bible.
Be like the 2 good spies who were positive that Israel could take the land of Canaan. Don’t be contagious like the 10 spies who said it was impossible to take the land. Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan. Here were their reports:
10 men said:
Numbers 13:31 “But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”
Look how their attitudes were contagious to all Israel:
Numbers 14:1 “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.”
Now look at the 2 that were positive, Joshua and Caleb:
Numbers 14:7-8 “And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land…is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.”
The 10 were so contagious, all Israel still believed them:
Numbers 14:10-11 “But all the congregation bade stone them (Joshua and Caleb) with stones…11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me?…”
As a result of the contagiousness of the 10 bad spies, God sent his punishment for wondering 40 years in the wilderness.
Numbers 14:34 “…shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years…”
What happened to the 10 who were contagious in a very negative way?
Numbers 14:37 “Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.”
What about Caleb and Joshua?
Numbers 14:38 “But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.”
For our contagious characteristics to be duplicated we need to find a host, a family member, a church member, a friend, etc. So, the question is now asked of yourself, “So, what contagious virus are you spreading? Bad habits, doom and gloom, negativity, or good habits, cheerfulness, encouragement, positivity, etc.” Search your heart today.
Psalm 139:33 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”
[1] https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/how-viruses-work
[2] https://askabiologist.asu.edu/questions/how-viruses-work
