What's That Smell?

 By Jessica Edwards

 

Recently I got on an empty elevator and could still smell the pleasant fragrance of perfume from the lady who had just left the elevator. I began to think about what God has to say concerning our fragrance -- our smell -- and what odor we send up to Him and out into the world. 

Does God Really Care About My "Smell"?

In the Bible there are many verses about the pleasant aroma of sacrifices to the Lord (Lev. 1:9,13; 2:2; Num. 15:3). David says in Ps.141:2 (ESV), "Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" 

The Apostle Paul says in 2 Cor. 2:14-15 (ESV) "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing".  He then goes on to say that to the unsaved we stink and smell of death, but to the saved we smell of life (paraphrase of verse 16). Wow!  God chooses us to be that sweet fragrant aroma to Him and to the world around us.

The Contrast

But there's a great contrast between Lev. 1 of the pleasant smell of sacrifices and Is.1:11,13 where God says He has had enough of their sacrifices, and incense has become an abomination to Him. The incense had become a stink to Him because of the heart issues, the false religiosity of the people. They were still going through the motions of sacrifices but their hearts were so wrong.

My Prayer 

Oh Father, how I pray we will serve You with a pure heart, serve You with the right motives, that we will not serve or lead out of duty or religiosity but recognize all we do is for You. I pray we will be a sweet aroma of Christ to You and are not discouraged when the unsaved or unrighteous (even those in ministry) reject us and think we "stink". I pray we will recognize that our sweet smell before You is the only thing that matters! Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to die for our sins, for washing us clean through His blood, and for continuing to sanctify us for Your glory! In the precious name of Jesus I ask these things. Amen

 

Jessica Edwards is a wife and homeschool mom who loves Jesus and His Word. She lives in the beautiful north Georgia mountains where you can find her hiking or trying to grow veggies in her vegetable garden.