During the past few weeks around the same time in the wooded area outside my window, I’ve seen a creature that looks like that of a strange small dog. When it appeared three times in the same day, I realized it was a mangy red fox. Usually red foxes are nocturnal,but the terrible case of the mange on this red fox had caused this creature to come out of hiding to find whatever food it could get. It was a hairless and ugly sight to see! It had come out of the woods and it now walked the pathway closest to my home.
In ancient Israel, foxes were deemed evil and cunning animals. The behavior of a mangy fox is drastically different. Because of the vicious attack of the parasitic mange, a red fox will display unnatural characteristics such as no longer taking care of or wanting to interact with its family, being lethargic, and it comes out frequently amongst humans and other animals during the daytime in order to find food. The mange it’s infected with has the ability to transfer from humans and other animals. Those infected can be treated, however, the toll it takes on the red fox, leads to a terrible death.
Jesus is True Vine and Gardner
Jesus said, 15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. (John 15: 1-10 NLT)
How wonderfully joyful it is to be connected to the Heavenly Father as branches! We are chosen to bear much fruit and the Father is looking for us to do so. We are to bear the Fruit of the Spirit as stated in the Amplified version of Galatians 5:22-23, 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Get Rid of Your Sins!
Galatians 5: 19-21 AMP, 19 “Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 idolatry, ]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 7:1, 7 “Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.”
We must get rid of everything that contaminates the body and spirit. It was no accident why God is speaking so strongly about mangy foxes. Mange is a terrible infection upon the host in which it attaches itself. It infects that which infects you. In other words, it’s much worse than it appears. It will cause devastation and contaminate everything around you. We must do away with the hidden sins of our heart, the foulness that comes out of our mouth, and the unclean behavior of our daily lives. These “little mangy foxes” are robbing our lives of the fruit of the Holy Spirit!
How do we get rid of these mangy foxes? Galatians 5: 16-18, 16 “But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the [sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. 17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.”
When mangy foxes go back to their dens, they infect not just the den itself but all those that dwell in that place. Are you the infector or the one being infected? Is your place of habitation, spiritually or physically, in an infectious den? Is your sinful infection gradually wiping out the generations of your family in a cyclical fashion? Right now, choose this day to repent of your sins, and let God be your “ mangy fox killer”.
