Smells can be a huge trigger for memories, thought patterns, and emotions. Think about the smells of Thanksgiving, they make us feel comfortable and reminiscent of the past. Whereas, the constant smell of garbage can cause us to be irritable and maybe even give us a headache.
One time, while helping in my church's nursery, a child got sick all over me - right after he had been drinking a cup of milk. After cleaning myself up a bit, I had to wear the shirt until I was able to get a change of clothes.
I believe, that as we live this life, we're just going around wearing puked-on clothes. We smell bad, but we're so used to it that we don't even notice - or maybe it's more that we don't care. We're grumpy and complain a lot, everything makes us upset, we're quick to judge and gossip. Altogether, we make everyone want to avoid us.
We don't have to live like this though! God and the fruits of the Spirit are like a perfume or a great smelling detergent. When we spend time with God in prayer, reading the Bible, really experiencing church it's like taking the time to spray some perfume on or wash our clothes.
Let's smell like lavender, when our friends are stressed, and be peaceful and calming. Let's smell like Thanksgiving, when meeting new people at church, and be inviting and joyful. Let's smell like lemon, when those around us are depressed and exhausted, and be encouraging.
By being close to a lemon, we can know the strength of its smell. Like an onion, its smell can linger on your hands after handling it. However, unlike an onion, the smell of a lemon is energizing and sweet.
Living in the way God calls us to and letting the joy and truth of it fill us, so that it comes out in the short encounters we have with others, is impactful. We’re encouraged to do this everywhere, so that everyone might experience the scent of God. We shouldn’t just see this as a calling from God, but as an honor to be part of the process of His plan and to get to worship Him through it. Smelling good all the time isn’t an easy feat, but it’s possible by getting into the Bible and letting it consume our thoughts.
To be a pleasing aroma includes scents of: Truth – Applying the Bible to every part of our lives, letting who Jesus is and what he’s done move us to do what’s right. Love – Doing, saying and thinking things the way Jesus would. Sacrifice – Being willing to give up our desires for the good of someone else. Generosity – Joyfully sharing what God has so kindly given us with others. Kindness – Going out of our way to do an act for another person. Compassion – Sympathize or care for others with genuine passion. Humility – Understanding we’re not above anyone. Gentleness – Being sensitive, thoughtful, and lighthearted to the way people need to be treated. Patience – Realizing that everything takes time and mistakes in this world are inevitable. Forgiveness – Letting the remembrance that the God of everything forgave us for hurting Him motivate us to not hold on to bitterness. Peace – Desiring unity over getting what we want. Gratitude – Knowing that everything that’s truly good is a gift from God.
Here’s how not to smell like a lemon: Listen to the world’s standard of good – Some people that are so immersed in the world are going to tell you, a person living out God’s ways, that you’re offensive – that you smell bad. Don’t mistake their offense for wisdom. Smell like an onion – Now what really stinks, like having the smell of onions on your hands, is sin. You need to let God help you get rid of this smell before you can really smell like a lemon.
God’s Guidance:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV) – “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) – “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Philippians 4:18 (NIV) – “I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
Colossians 3:16 (NIV) – “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV) – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:5 (NIV) – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”
Colossians 3:8-9 (NIV) – “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Application:
1. Think or speak Bible verses throughout everything you do this week
2. Thank God for the honor of being used by Him
3. Choose one pleasing “scent” talked about to apply to your life
Strength Point:
Every day we must decide to put on and wear the good scents that God supplies to us as His children.
Song of the Week:
Reflection Question:
What are you triggering by the way you live your life?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being like a pleasing aroma to my soul. You make me feel at peace while also renewing my spirit! I'm sorry for the times I give off the scent of death and sin, even though You live in me. I pray that You would convict me when I begin to do this. I want people to know that I love You, that I'm connected to You, just by being near me. Let joy, peace, patience, and love be the smells that permeate the air around me. Make those scents linger in the hearts and minds of people, Lord, so that they might desire to know where to get them. Help me remember to spend time talking, meeting, and _ with You - for this is how I put on the good scents of Your Spirit. Just like the smell a lemon gives off, I pray that the way I live would be strong, refreshing, and _. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to live in me. You are my life. I love You, God! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being like a pleasing aroma to our soul. You make us feel at peace while also renewing our spirit! Help my friend to not give off the scent of death and sin. I pray that You would convict them when they begin to do this. Create a desire in my friend to want people to know that they love You, that they're connected to You, just by being near them. Let joy, peace, patience, and love be the smells that permeate the air around my friend. Make those scents linger in the hearts and minds of people, Lord, so that they might desire to know where to get them. Help my friend to remember to spend time talking, meeting, and learning about You - for this is how they put on the good scents of Your Spirit. Just like the smell a lemon gives off, I pray that the way my friend lives would be strong, refreshing, and energizing. Thank You for giving the people who come to You the Holy Spirit to live in us. You are our life. I love You, God! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
Happy Asian-American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Join us in celebration by being inspired by these amazing artists, content creators, authors: Mitch & Steph Wong, Ruth Chou Simons, Nicole L. Gusto, Hosanna Wong, Rhia G. Adley, and Levistance Worship.
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