The aroma of Christ

Good Morning Friends!  Forever His Friday!  I ran across a bible verse the other day that caused me to stop and ponder…..I have read it lots of times before, but this time I paused and pondered for a minute….but it wasn’t until this morning on my drive to work that I really “got” it.  The verse, I Corinthians 2:15, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ……”  That’s where I stopped and pondered….hmm do I smell like Christ……silly thoughts like that went through my mind…What does Christ smell like???  That portion of the verse had been wallowing around in my mind ever since….. until this morning as I was driving to work…..I drove through a patch of skunk…..oh my gosh, the stench was so strong it burned my nose…the first thought that popped into my mind was….”Well that certainly is not the aroma of Christ”  Christ would smell sweet….my mind was whirling….the aroma of Christ….kind, loving, unselfish, forgiving, compassionate…..Wow, I couldn’t wait to get to get to my bible and read more….how can we be “to God, the aroma of Christ?”  We are so un Christ-like.  OK, so here’s the rest of the story….verse 14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. “  Isn’t that the coolest way to think about knowing and loving Christ…..fragrant not stinky!  Sweet not pungent…..then 15 & 16 continue, “For we are to God the aroma of Christamong those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”  Fresh roses or pungent skunk…..life or death……We are, according to God….the aroma of Christ…..carrying HIS love to others, verse 16 concludes by telling us, “And who is equal to such a task?”  Oh my…..how do we do that…..God has confidence in us!  He trusts us with the loving, compassionate, forgiving and life giving “aroma of Christ”  HIS only SON….The SON HE gave for us….to wash us clean….Hmmm, that’s always a nice fragrance fresh from the bath…..clean, inside and out……forgiven….by HIS grace and mercy….Our Father trusts us to do HIS work…to spread the“fragrance of life” from the mountain tops!  Father, it’s hard to comprehend that You trust us with this life-giving task….thank you.  Enable us to go and confidently tell so that others may know YOU and receive eternal life.  “Rise, Shine, Give God the Glory!”

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  I Timothy 12.

Now get out there and smell up the world!!!  Love you all!

Be safe this weekend.  God’s blessings to each of you.

December 20, 2012

Good Afternoon (I was in class this morning) Friends! Thankfully His, Thursday! This morning, not far into my commute I saw….well smelled first, a skunk that had been run over…..Once I got over the smell, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the skunk was….shiny black coat with the bright white stripe….so very pretty to look at….but the smell, oh my goodness. As I drove by him, I had a silly thought…..I look like a skunk today…..all dressed in black and white…sure hope I don’t smell as bad as he does…..Well, my mind didn’t stop there….skunks are so pretty to look at, but they smell so bad and they will eat my chicken’s eggs and even kill the chickens…..so pretty to look at, but……not so pretty in so many ways…..Hmm….didn’t I just say I look like a skunk today…..Do we look prettier on the outside than what’s inside of us, inside our hearts and minds? Do we put off an offensive odor of arrogance, greed, or unconcern? Are we more concerned about putting up the biggest tree, elaborate decorations, and buying the fanciest presents, so that we “look pretty” rather than sharing simple acts of love…..Christmas is the greatest LOVE….God gave us HIS Son…..He does not care about how pretty we look on the outside…..He cares about what’s inside….inside our hearts and minds…..He wants us to ooze with the sweet fragrance of His love penetrating the hearts and minds of everyone around us, especially those that might be sad or lonely, hurting….in need of a sweet little Christmas miracle….a touch of love from our Heavenly Father from the inside! Heavenly Father fill us with Your love and faithfulness so that we are pretty for You on the inside.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that our your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. 1 Peter 3:3-5. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun....Psalm 37:4-6

 

Love you all!