“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 4:32-5:2

I have never yet met a person who didn’t hold Jesus in high esteem. Regardless of whether an individual believes in Jesus as the Son of God, everyone agrees that He was loving, caring, kind and self-giving. Many people will even say, “If everyone lived like Jesus, the world would be a better place.”

A nice philosophy, but it remains only that until we look more deeply into exactly what kind of love God lavishes on us and then calls His followers to live out. Kindness, compassion and forgiveness are the oil that could make families, communities and nations live well. But the words “gave himself up” and “offering” and “sacrifice” sting with their stark demands. These are words that require more than I can give, more than I have the power to produce.

And that is exactly as it should be. Being a follower of Jesus means that I have counted the cost of the path and consistently ask God to fill me with the power to live like Jesus ‘giving myself up, offering and sacrificing. It is this kind of life that wafts into the presence of God’ -we and what we offer to Him become perfume!

Father God, I want to be perfume to you but often, I admit, what you smell in my good works is the stench of self-reliance and self-satisfaction. Thank you for transforming my gifts into sweet smelling sacrifices as I offer them in repentance.

By Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Like a Sweet Perfume
• What’s That Smell?
• The Fragrance
• What Do You Smell Like?

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“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, 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.  2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (ESV)

When I cycle into work, I pass by a woodshed where pallets of sawn wood of various lengths and thickness are stacked and kept dry. Sometimes when I pass by, and the wind is in the right direction, the lovely fragrance of pine wafts over me.

I grew up with pine trees in our garden. I can still remember the difficulty of removing the pine-resin after I had gleefully climbed the firs, and it had stuck to my hands. It was a time of growing. I was a bit of a handful. I still am, but God loves me and meets me where I am.

This all-pervading smell of pine prompted these questions: When we wake up and greet the day, do we smile, or grimace? How do we perceive ourselves? Do we allow the fragrance of Jesus to permeate deep into our lives to bring His grace, to wash our sins away, or do we focus on our shortcomings? Do we rest in and enjoy God’s company, or have we become nodding acquaintances who pass Jesus by in the morning, or evening, like workday commuters we greet Jesus: “Hello-Goodbye, catch you later”.

How deep does our faith go? Jesus wants all of us, all the hopes, foibles, sins and secrets so that He can redeem us, encourage us and grow us. Through us He will be the fragrance of Life to the living and a challenge to those seeking Life.

So are we ready to be vessels capable of carrying the fragrance of Jesus to others, cleansed by the blood of Jesus? Have we allowed God’s love to penetrate past the surface, so the aroma of Jesus remains? Will it linger with others after we have moved on: or have we become commuters conformed into the worldâ’s mould?

PRAYER: LORD, we come to You in humility and hope that You will restore us. Not because we are something special but because we know You are the Son of God. We ask for Your consecration so that we may be fitting vessels to carry Your Holy Presence with us as we go.
Holy Spirit may Your fragrance splash over into the places you take us to today, in the Name of Jesus, amen.

by Rod Marshall
used by permission

https://www.roderickmarshall.blogspot.com/

FURTHER READING

The Fragrance

Becoming a Fragrance of Christ to God

Fragrance of Christ

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The post The Woodshed appeared first on Thoughts About God.

…God …through us, spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

The smell of baking permeated every corner of the house. Walking in from outside the fragrance was welcoming. The smell alone created an appetite and an expectation.

Did you know that you permeate the circle you live in with a fragrance?

Oh, it’s not your perfume or your after shave.  It’s the fragrance of Christ. It’s His love and peace flowing through you and impacting the circle where you influence.

You bring the fragrance of Jesus with you as you interact with those around you. You can bring acceptance and love, gentleness and kindness. You can bring an unselfish spirit and an embracing warmth.

Give away some of the love Jesus gave you. Create a hunger for Him in those around you by sharing the fragrance of Jesus.

Simply ask for His Holy Spirit to fill you today with power from Him so you can share the fragrance of His loving care. Share His gentle love today and, as the old saying goes, “if necessary, use words”.

Father God, I want to say a special “Thank You” today for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank you that knowing Him can change a life! Help me today to have a heart full of the abundance of all Jesus is: love and gentleness, acceptance and caring. Help me to be filled today with these things, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the fragrance of Christ will permeate wherever I go today! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

By Gail Rodgers
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• The Fragrance –  by Rod Marshall
• Fragrance of Christ – by Kathy Cheek
• What’s that Smell? 

The post What’s That Smell? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Jesus warned about our days, saying,

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10).

The Lord’s warning was not just about conditions in the world; He is speaking to His disciples. He warned about conditions in the church.

Today, the church is overstocked with Christians whose love has grown cold.

As a result, rancor fills our conversations. We have become a sub-culture that is mad that the world has not become Christian, while we are tolerant that we are not Christlike.

When you discuss things that are wrong, does rancor come forth or prayer? The word rancor came from Latin rancere, which meant, “to stink.” (See rancid). This is exactly what we exude heavenward when all we do is find fault and criticize. The smell of our rancor ascends into the awareness of God. These things ought not to be.

On the other hand, intercessory prayer is a sweet aroma to God. Again, when we pass through trials and determine to emerge more like Jesus, our very lives become “a fragrance of Christ to God” (2 Corinthians. 2:15). Amazing! in spite of our flaws and weaknesses, while we are living in this harsh world, we can actually become like Christ.

Indeed, may this be the passion of all who trust God’s Son: to become a fragrance of Christ to God.

By Francis Frangipane
Used by Permission

Francis Frangipane
info@frangipane.org
www.frangipane.org
www.icitc.org
www.arrowbookstore.com

Further Reading

• How Does Your Life Smell? –  by Bradley Stubbs

• What Do You Smell Like? – by Mike Woodard

• A Lingering Aroma – by Marilyn Ehle

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The post Becoming a Fragrance of Christ to God appeared first on Thoughts About God.