Great question, don’t you think? And encompassing a plethora of responses. It can be attributed to food, perfume, body odor, garbage or attitude. Not all fragrances go well with all body chemistry. What smells good on you may give off an odor on me. But when it comes to spiritual fragrance, we must all smell the same. There should be no noticeable differences between one saint and another. We’re all called to smell like, or bear the fragrance of Christ as a sweet smelling aroma.
So what’s that smell? What are you wearing or giving off as you pass by the world child of God? The presence of Jesus in our lives should always turn heads. Jesus never called a crowd, He attracted a crowd. They were drawn to the fragrance of His Father. He wore Him in every word He spoke and every deed He performed. His fragrance was so strong that when Lazarus came forth from the grave after four days, no one ran away but got close enough to remove the grave clothes from him, why? The smell of death had been replaced with the fragrance of life. The Resurrection and the Life removed the odor of death.
At the cross Jesus poured out His fragrant blood on all those who would receive the free gift of salvation. Having received Him, we are now called to avoid the sins that once had us smelling like death. In Paul’s epistles to the Ephesian church, he encouraged believers to avoid the stench of sin. He told them exactly what will create a foul smell.
“You are God’s children whom He loves, so try to be like Him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God. But there must be no sexual sin among you, or any kind of evil or greed. Those things are not right for God’s holy people. Also, there must be no evil talk among you, and you must not speak foolishly or tell evil jokes. These things are not right for you. Instead, you should be giving thanks to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-4 NCV
We are called to draw others to Him by living attractive lives. Lives that bear witness to everything that He is. When we live godly lives, we become like Mary’s costly perfume. We fill every room with His aroma. Wherever we go His fragrance should turn heads and hearts. Our words are fragrances, our attitude and conduct is a fragrance, our benevolence is a fragrance, our careers are fragrances, our parenting is a fragrance, our marriages are a fragrance, our giving is a fragrance, our relationships with others, is a fragrance. But what others smell is what determines whether they run away or draw near to ask, “what is that smell?” Is our fragrance fresh and inviting, or foul and repulsive? The closer we get to Jesus, the more we smell like Him. The more we take on the world’s odor the greater the stench.
Have you ever hugged someone and when you walked away you still carried the residue from the cologne or perfume they were wearing- But it smelled so good, you didn’t mind wearing it? But have you ever had the opposite experience where you couldn’t wait to wash it off? That’s what happens when we don’t live up to His fragrance. We are a foul stench to the world. There’s scripture I’d like to share with you that I pray will encourage you to keep your fragrance fresh. We are His perfumery, a sweet fragrance to a world desperate for love and hope. We have been given a wonderful opportunity to turn hearts towards Christ. Don’t foul it up.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s victory parade. God uses us to spread His knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. Our offering to God is this: We are the sweet smell of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. To those who are lost, we are the smell of death that brings death, but to those who are being saved, we are the smell of life that brings life.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NCV
When God smells the fragrant aroma of His Church, He responds with blessings and promises as He did after the flood. Our lives lived out for His pleasure is the fragrance of heaven. He will always turn towards what smells of Him.
“And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.”
Genesis 8:20-21 KJV
So what’s that smell? What are you wearing? Will the unsaved walk away from your presence with the aroma of Christ or the foul odor of compromise? Remember, not all fragrances suit the wearer; “We are allowed to do all things,” but not all things are good for us to do. “We are allowed to do all things,” but not all things help others grow stronger.”
1 Corinthians 10:23 NCV
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
April 23, 2021
HAPPY 1st YEAR ANNIVERSARY MORNING MESSAGES !! Today marks the 260th message sent out by God’s Grace a year ago. Thank you for your faithful support and prayers. It has been a labor of love. To God be all the Glory!
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