YOU SMELL SOOOO GOOD!

“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 2:15-16, NIV)

With fall evenings already here, and winter right around the corner, I am dreaming of homemade vegetable soup brewing in our crock-pot.  Sometimes, my husband and I like to cook it all night so that it can slowly simmer, and to make sure everything in it is completely cooked.  In my opinion, there is nothing like the aroma of home-cooked vegetable soup.  It always delights our senses, and creates a delicious aroma.

In the same way, as Christians, God desires us to spread a fragrant aroma of Him in our daily lives.  This means at home around our families, at church, in the workplace or going about our daily activities.  One evidence of a fragrant aroma in the Christian life is joy.  I admit that it is very hard to be joyful while living with a chronic illness and/or pain.  There have been times in the past when I was too sick to even lift the corners of my mouth to smile.  On some days, I wondered if true joy in life was ever to be found again. 

I love to read the accounts in Scripture of Christians whose fragrant aromas God used to bless others.  One example is the Proverbs 31 woman.  You can read Proverbs 31:10-31 to discover her amazing character traits.  She is a woman of noble character (v. 10); a seamstress (v. 13); very industrious (vs. 14-15, 27); a shrewd businesswoman (v. 16, 24); a hard worker who sleeps little (vs. 17-18); kind and giving to the poor (v. 20).   She speaks with wisdom and discernment (v. 26) and looks toward the future with optimism (v.25) because she knows that God will take care of her and her family.  She is a blessing to everyone she comes in contact with.

How’s your fragrance today?  Do you smell sweet or sour?  When people are around you, do they notice your optimism, contagious joy and enthusiasm about life, or do they run for cover?  Whatever our circumstances, we need to pray daily for character qualities that are pleasing to God and to our fellow men.  God can use something as small as a smile on a bad day to be a testimony to Him.  When others know what we are going through, and still see joy in our lives, it will make them want to praise God for His grace and goodness.  So be a fragrant aroma today, and everyday, for God’s glory!