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Topic: Fragrance (10/24/05)
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TITLE: What's that Smell? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Donna Johnson
10/26/05 -
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"In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation--an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse." (The Message)
Remember, from a physical perspective, molecules have to be given off in order for a smell to be perceived. Let’s equate that to a spiritual perspective. As Christians, we have to be “giving off”, or producing something in order for a “smell” to be apparent. So, in a spiritual sense, what are we to do to produce a “sweet scent”?
Galatians 5:6b says, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (NIV) When we express our faith through love, we produce a sweet smelling fragrance. Those who know God or are being drawn to him through the working of the Holy Spirit will also sense that same sweet fragrance. For those who are rejecting Christ, that odor highlights the spiritual decay in their own lives. Hence, instead of an “exquisite fragrance”, they detect a horrible stench.
How strong is the fragrance that you are producing? Are you odorless? Does God turn away in disgust? Is the aroma wafting towards heaven a sweet scent?
Inhale deeply. What do you smell? What do those around you smell? What does God smell?
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