17 March 2014 Sweet Fragrance by Cindy Hess Kasper Read: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 We are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. —2 Corinthians 2:15 Some scents are unforgettable. Recently, my husband mentioned he was running low on shaving cream. “I’ll pick some up,” I offered. “Can you get this kind?” he asked, showing me the can. “I love the smell—it’s the kind my dad always used.” I smiled, recalling the time I had been momentarily taken back to my childhood when I got a whiff of the same shampoo my mom used to wash my hair. For both Tom and me, the fragrances had brought an emotional response and pleasant memory of people we loved who were no longer around. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Memories, imagination, old sentiments, and associations are more readily reached through the sense of smell than through any other channel.” So, what if our lives were a fragrance that attracted people to God? Second Corinthians 2:15 says that “we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” Our fragrance is pleasing to God, but it also attracts others to Him or repels them. We who understand the sacrifice of Jesus have the opportunity to be the “fragrance of Christ”—a reminder of Him—to others. The sweet scent of the likeness of Christ can be an irresistible pull toward the Savior. Let my hands perform His bidding, Let my feet run in His ways, Let my eyes see Jesus only, Let my lips speak forth His praise. —James When we walk with God, we leave behind a sweet fragrance that can inspire others to follow. Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 32-34; Mark 15:26-47 © 2014 by RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:24:43 +0000