What's That Smell?

By Sharon Chiellini

Standing on my front porch this morning at the crack of dawn with coffee in hand, I completing a half-hearted yawn and hugged my daughter Bethany goodbye as she hurried to her car to drive to school. I turned to walk back into the house and was greeted with the lingering smell of her perfume. The sweet smell reminded me of her beautiful personality and how much joy she brings to our lives with her sweet spirit and her loving heart. It also made me ponder the notion that we all leave a fragrance behind whether we are wearing perfume or not. In reality, it matters very little how sweet we smell physically if our spirit does not have the sweet fragrance that can only come from the Savior.

Have you ever pondered the thought that your spirit has a fragrance? How sweet do you smell to those you come in contact with every day? Is your fragrance one that others want to carry with them or do you cause them to desire a good scrub after rubbing elbows with you? We all have our good smellin' days and our bad smellin' days, myself included, so is it really that important to be careful how we permeate our world?

The Bible is very clear about how important fragrance is to the Lord. He was very specific about it's uses and the significance behind them. In the book of Exodus, long before Jesus walked the earth, the Golden Alter of Incense is described in great detail and God was very particular and exclusive about the recipe that was to be used to make the holy incense that was to burn continually for Him and replenished twice a day. The fragrance of the incense rising up to heaven is a visual depiction of Jesus interceding on our behalf and carrying our prayers to the Lord in the same way that the sweet fragrance of the incense rises to heaven. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords lifting up prayers to the Father continually on your behalf. What could possibly smell better than that?

A sweet fragrance lingers and stays with you and you carry it along wherever you go...
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. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. 2 Corinthians 2: 14-17

     I wonder how often as Christians we let the stench of the world overpower the fragrance of Christ in our lives to such an extent that His sweet smell is unrecognizable altogether? There are many odor causing attitudes that stink up our witness and cause those around us to wrinkle their nose. An unforgiving heart, anger, jealousy, pride, greed, selfishness, laziness...how are you smelling today? What kind of fragrance are you leaving behind? Are you drawing others to the Savior with the sweet smell of Him?

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

There is no better way to start your day than spending time with the Lord and filling yourself with the sweet fragrance of Him before you even come into contact with the rest of the world. I know from experience that when I am neglectful in making my quiet time a priority, I pity those that stand down wind from me. I encourage you to make daily quiet time with the Lord a priority in your morning schedule. Study His word and spend time in prayer every morning and I guarantee you will smell better and better every day.

Smell ya later!

Until next time...
Strength and Honor in Christ,