10/15/2026
Are you a reflection of Jesus Christ in your everyday life? Has He instilled in you a gentleness of spirit, and made you lowly of heart, and meek? Are these the attributes that you find desirable as you make your way through this dog-eat-dog world that exists today? Well, If you allow yourself to be immersed in the blood of Christ then they should be, and you will be exhibiting them to those around you! Do you see such character traits as strengths, and not weaknesses?
“I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:14 ESV
The blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, was shed for us, and like the blood of the temple lamb it has been placed upon us. We are doused, and made pure by it, but we also take on its odor, taste, and color. Pastor Andrew Murray used the example of a piece of cloth that is dipped continuously in a dye vat, and takes on the color of the dye, but as I read his analogy I saw it in a slightly different way.
I concede that as we are immersed in the blood of Jesus, we take on its color, and that this color reaches every fiber of who we are, and I also agree that we must be dipped often, but I don’t see that we should be dipped frequently just because our color has faded, no, I see it making the color of our faith richer and deeper instead. You see, what we wash away with the blood of Christ cannot return, it is separated from us forever... gone! God tells us how He forgives and isn’t this how Jesus forgives too?
“as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Psalms 103:12 ESV
So, there are two results that come from being washed with the blood of Jesus. The first is that we are separated from our sins... cleansed, and the second is that we take on the attributes of the blood itself; the most obvious being its color. In this way, each time we are dipped into the blood we are cleansed, and we are also made more perfectly like the blood itself in appearance, smell, and taste.
Several years ago, I came home from work and two of my grandchildren were playing on the swing set in my backyard. When they saw me they came running to me and wrapped their arms around my legs. It was a perfect way to be welcomed home, but just when I thought it couldn’t get any better... it did. My granddaughter looked up at me and said, “You smell like church Andad, have you been to church?” I had been praying in my car, but I hadn’t been to our church building; I had been at my office all day. So, what was she smelling? She was smelling the blood of the Lamb. Jesus gives us more than a good cleansing from sin, and the outward appearance of himself... He gives us the fullness of Himself, His character. He gives us his scent, His taste, and all the other attributes that make Him who He is, both physically and spiritually. I have said this before, but as we dwell in Him, and He in us, we become one flesh with Him.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29 ESV
When we go to school we gain knowledge as we learn. Jesus invites us to learn from Him too. Just like our school days, we gain in knowledge as the years of instruction go by... so it is with being immersed in the Word of God, and the blood of the Lamb; with each day, and emersion, we learn more, and assume more of the divine character of Jesus. We walk away smelling, tasting, looking, and acting more like Him with each lesson.
“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:12, 14 ESV
But lest we become confused let’s realize the point of our learning... we don’t learn so that we can quote scripture, although that is a beneficial byproduct, we don’t learn to become wise, although that is a byproduct as well, we learn to become more like the person of Jesus, and God. This is what relationship is all about, it is being drawn closer to one another, not to perfect our study, or for the purpose of some personal gain, but to know and love one another more fully.
I know that you have probably witnessed this yourself, but as a married couple grows old together they begin to take on each other’s mannerisms, and characteristics; they often walk alike, speak alike, and have similar tastes in food, and other things. when you see them walking down the street together you sense their sameness, they walk as one, and you can feel the oneness just by the subtle way that they interact. This is relationship, this comes from constantly living and being immersed in the same vat of dye.
In this same way we are the taste of our Lord Jesus Christ...
“"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.”
Matthew 5:13 ESV
In this way we are the light of our faith...
“"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14 ESV
And in this way we are also the fragrance of Jesus...
“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 ESV
So, are we prepared to be immersed in the blood of the lamb so that we might become more righteous, holy, and like Jesus and the Father? Is this our greatest desire… is this our most fervent prayer?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for calling me into relationship with you and your Son Jesus Christ. I thank you for desiring to call me your child, and to impart to me your character. I yearn to be more like you each day, and with every immersion in the blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Forgive me my sins Holy Father, and separate them from me by the blood of the Lamb, and once I am cleansed place your hand upon me and teach me of yourself. In this way, let me learn to be more like you. Allow me to walk among men and show them your radiant glory, let them smell your fragrance as I approach, and taste you on their tongues as they kiss my cheek. Let them see my gentle nature, and feel the peace of Christ in me. Bless me in these ways and many more Heavenly Father. As I dwell in Jesus, and He in you, make me more complete in your image that you might be glorified in all I say, and always by my actions. Praised be your name Holy Father, for great are you who transforms us, earthly men and women, into your children. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, who instills in me yourself.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen!
Rich Forbes