Contagious

 

Contagious, it’s a word that has been rolling around my brain for weeks.  My normal reaction to that word is to highly consider breaking out the bleach and putting into quarantine any poor soul who is infected.  “Are you contagious?”  is a common question asked this time of year and I often find myself giving those who are ill a wide berth, because seriously…. I don’t want to catch what they have.

Contagious: able to be passed from one person to another by touching; capable of being easily spread to others;  causing people to feel or act a similar way.

But God has totally different thoughts on this word- CONTAGIOUS.  He’s taking the icky and making it spectacular.

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven,” Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message).

Are you spilling God’s colors by bringing His light into each and every moment of each and every day?  Are you chasing away the darkness— bringing His glory to rest on every situation?  Are you causing others to catch what you have?  When people see you, talk to you, stand next to you, spend time with you— are they infected with Jesus? 

And so I ask myself and I ask you: Are you contagious?

If not, are you willing to be around those who are spilling forth Jesus and become contaminated?