08/25/08

Good Monday afternoon Everyone!

Resemblance is a funny thing. Kayla looks just like me (bless her heart), and Jake looks just like his mama (he’s the lucky one). And when I look at them it amazes me at just how much they favor us. And not only how they favor us, but how they act like us. For instance, Kayla has a strong personality, she doesn’t mind being in charge, and as a matter of fact would just assume be in charge. Jake on the other hand, likes being a part of something but does not necessarily need to be in charge. So it is just as neat as anything how they look and act like us.

This past weekend I got to meet a ½ brother of mine that I have never met before in my life. I just found out last Wednesday that he even existed. And what was neat about that is I have never met this man in my life, but we look a little bit alike, but what is even more uncanny is how we act, think, and carry ourselves alike. We have the same quirks if you know what I mean.

And then on the way home from seeing him I get a phone call from a man whom I am related to on my biological mothers side of the family and start to unpack their lives and as it turns out there are over 12 men and women in the ministry on that side of the family! And they all love to hunt and fish and were raised on a dairy farm. Now I have never met these people, and up until last Wednesday I didn’t even know that they existed, however because of our genetics, we have a lot of eerie similarities.

1 John 1:6-7 says If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

So here is what John just said, if we are in the family of Jesus there are certain things that will be prevalent in our lives. . .

1.      We will walk in the light. What does it mean to walk in the light? Well it means mainly that we will walk with Jesus in that we will let Him shine on the areas of our lives that need to be fixed. One thing that is for sure when light hits something it exposes whatever it is, it cannot be hidden from the light, it is just seen for all it is. And when we are walking in The Light, we are constantly letting Him work on areas of our lives. Oh it might take years for us to let Him, but He is constantly shining on that spot that we so badly don’t want Him looking at. But if we are a part of His family, we will walk in that light and let it expose us and our sin.

2.      We will have fellowship with one another. If you have ever been in or around a close family you will appreciate this one. You see anyone who is in Christ will have fellowship with one another and will love one another as it says in 1 John 1:9-10 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. . .” you know some people are just hard to love, but the Scripture tells us plainly here that if we are In Christ we will have fellowship with them. One thing that I know for sure is that I love being around people. I love hanging out eating, laughing and just getting to know one another. That is Jesus in me, that is Him wanting me to connect to the rest of His body.

3.      Jesus His Son purifies us from sin. Finally what John is saying is that we will not be riddled with guilt because of our sin. I am amazed at how many Christians walk around beating themselves up because of their past. They have never let the Gospel penetrate their soul. They have never really felt what Jesus did for them. I am not saying they are not saved, but what I am saying is that they have never felt the purifying cleanse of Jesus’ blood. Let me tell all of you something, JESUS PAID IT ALL! ALL TO HIM I OWE! SIN HAD LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW!!! It is time that we live in the flowing cleansing powerful flow of the forgiveness of Jesus. Stop being crippled by your past and be empowered by your future! Satan uses this more against God’s children than any other tool. You have been set free, live like it!

I love you guys, I hope you have a great week. I also ask you to pray for each other, pray that each of you will feel the release of Jesus’ forgiveness on your lives!

Pastor Jason Lyle 
The Open Range Church of Henry County 
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.