The Ripple Effect of sin short-circuits the work of the Holy Spirit
The Ripple Effect is a series of effects or consequences that are the result of a single event or action. You’ve taken a stone and you’ve thrown it into a pond, and you see the circles that are rippling outward from the center where you threw the stone. That’s not the only effect that throw might have had. It’s very possible that the sound of it going in may have scared a duck that was on the pond or the weight of it going down through the water, disturbed fish that were swimming there.
You are tied to all of that. You’re tied to the stone. You’re tied to the water. You’re tied to the ducks, and you’re tied to the fish by the ripples. You have caused change through a single and simple act. That can be change for good, or that can be change for bad. Sometimes your actions create unintended consequences through the ripples, the rogue ripples that go out from the center.
What if you’re in a restaurant and somebody is choking on some food and you know the Heimlich. Somebody said, "You know the Heimlich. They’re choking." You say, "I don’t know if that’s my place. I really don’t want to get involved." Would that be wrong?
Maybe somebody is trapped in destructive behavior. Maybe they’re drinking too much or there are drugs or sexual immorality. Or maybe it’s a friend you work with that seems to be forming an emotional attachment with someone other than their spouse. I don’t want to get involved in that. They’re dying! Wouldn’t it be wrong not to get involved?
Galatians 6:1 says, "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path." Listen, godly doesn’t refer to some elite spiritual class. Godly refers to you. You’re just a page ahead. You’re not doing what they’re doing, okay. You’re a page ahead. You ought to restore them humbly and gently, willing to help someone out because their life depends on it. You’re a hope dispenser. You’re a life dispenser. That’s why you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
You are tied to all of that. You’re tied to the stone. You’re tied to the water. You’re tied to the ducks, and you’re tied to the fish by the ripples. You have caused change through a single and simple act. That can be change for good, or that can be change for bad. Sometimes your actions create unintended consequences through the ripples, the rogue ripples that go out from the center.
What if you’re in a restaurant and somebody is choking on some food and you know the Heimlich. Somebody said, "You know the Heimlich. They’re choking." You say, "I don’t know if that’s my place. I really don’t want to get involved." Would that be wrong?
Maybe somebody is trapped in destructive behavior. Maybe they’re drinking too much or there are drugs or sexual immorality. Or maybe it’s a friend you work with that seems to be forming an emotional attachment with someone other than their spouse. I don’t want to get involved in that. They’re dying! Wouldn’t it be wrong not to get involved?
Galatians 6:1 says, "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path." Listen, godly doesn’t refer to some elite spiritual class. Godly refers to you. You’re just a page ahead. You’re not doing what they’re doing, okay. You’re a page ahead. You ought to restore them humbly and gently, willing to help someone out because their life depends on it. You’re a hope dispenser. You’re a life dispenser. That’s why you are filled with the Holy Spirit.
In your life every decision you make has a Ripple Effect. The ripple effect of sin will short-circuit the work of the Holy Spirit in Your life. That’s why it’s a big deal. Be involved in The Ripple Effect that changes things for the good. Your Ripple Effect is from a single event or action and effects the consequences that are from you.
No comments:
Post a Comment