A Few Bars From The Jail

I hope that you all enjoyed the 4th of July celebrations last week. I know that my family and I did. We took a trip to Jacobs Field and watched as the Tribe drummed on the Tigers, a trip to Malabar Farms and even to Put-In-Bay. Of late I have been reflecting on my extended family. Some of them are blood relations and some are Blood Bought relations. Gary & Camie Pettyjohn are some of the later.  Ours has been a life long relationship and we have had a wonderful times together.

You see I call Gary my brother (and one of my best friends) because of our relationship. It has been a relationship built over many years (nearly three decades). We have watched each other’s children grow and mature. We have encouraged each other in our Christian walk. I feel no shame or embarrassment in saying that I love Gary as my brother – nor does he me.

You know we are to have this kind of confession when we speak of Jesus Christ as well. You see step five on our journey toward Salvation comes with confession. Not just a casual “oh yah” I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but a confession that He is the only way to find forgiveness for our sins and to gain entrance into the family of God. It is out of this confession that our faith is stirred and we grow in fellowship with our Savior.

Jesus said, “If you will confess me before men, then I will confess you to my Father in heaven. But if you deny me before men, then I will also deny you before my Father” Matt 10:32-33 (Emphasis mine). The Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Rome had this to say, “That if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him form the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Rom 10:9-10

As in my friendship with Gary, it isn’t enough to feel he is my brother I must express it. So too we must proclaim brotherhood with Christ. In so doing we quicken the spirit and show how vital the relationship is for self and all mankind.

Scott