Do you wear cologne? Perfume? After shave? Do you know anyone who wears a LOT?
I once worked for a woman who wore so much perfume, I always knew when she was in the office. I knew if she passed my door. I knew if she stopped at the copier. And she didn’t smell bad. She just liked her perfume. And there was this aroma that followed her wherever she went. I liked it—it was a good smell.
What is your aroma??
Paul writes about your aroma as a Christian:
“Thanks be to God, who always … 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” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.
Paul is saying Christians, whether they know it or not, will sort of like the spiritual smell of you—they will be attracted to the grace and forgiveness and love that comes from you. Many lost people will also be drawn to you for that reason. But some lost people will dislike you because you give off a fragrance that makes them uncomfortable. Paul does not put it into words, but perhaps the aroma he describes communicates something like this: ‘there is a God, there are rules, and you have broken them.’ That is, the aroma of Christ may bother them because it reminds them of their need to repent.
The conclusion? The closer you get to Jesus, the more people can “smell Him” on you. That will draw MANY people to you, like flies to honey. But it will bother some people a great deal.
Has anyone ever hated you for no reason?
Maybe it’s Christ in you that they can’t tolerate. Don’t take it personally. Pray for them and be kind. Be a light. And keep on giving off the aroma of Christ. It is the best fragrance you can have!
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Household Words: 