Tuesday 2 March 2010

What do you smell like?

Our sense of smell is a very good thing as I've found out recently when i lost it for a while. I read on the BBC today that our noses are being investigated as a possible source of identification i.e. nose prints. What a lovely thing it is to smell good smells e.g. freshly cooked bread, fresh flowers, perfume/aftershave and alternatively its not so nice to smell rotten food, mold and smelly feet. The Bible in 2Corinthians 2v15-17 says:

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? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Paul describes us as the aroma of Christ to God.....what a thought that God delights in us and our lives as a result of being made clean and fresh in Christ and having our sins forgiven. But what a challenge...the aroma of our life can point people to life or death. When you smell nice bread in the supermarket of course you are more likely to buy it than if you smell mould. Likewise if our lives smell sweet to others they will be more likely to be attracted to learn more about Jesus and taste and see that God is good. But also what a sobering thought that Christians can also stink...and people can be put off Christianity by this. But the final bit of verse 17 says we are commissioned by God i.e. its God who sends us out and equips us with the sweet smelling fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5v22-24)....love, joy ,peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. How can we smell good? By being IN CHRIST....by knowing him better..by following him closer..by feeding on his word. So I ask myself and you....how are you smelling today?

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