“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16

Aromas

There’s a beautiful stream near my house where I love to walk. Oh, the aroma that wafts from that delightful place! Every time I go there, it takes me back in time to my childhood and the wonderful fun I had “down at the creek.” There’s just something about that mingling of smells; the water, willows and sun-scorched blackberries all combine to produce an intoxicating fragrance.

As a child growing up in the mountains, it was considered a glorious summer day, when neighborhood kids and I could spend hours at the creek, wading and looking for turtles, frogs, and orange-bellied salamanders (or water-dogs as we called them). We sometimes pretended to be the first Native Americans, gathering pine nuts and making “dishes” to hold them from the red clay deposits along the creek banks. It’s funny how so many details come flooding back, just by one whiff from a stream today.

The Lord knows all about the power of aromas. He gave us a keen sense of smell, for which I’m thankful (most of the time). I can’t say I’m quite as thrilled though, when the neighborhood skunk makes his rounds and sprays his scent under our open bedroom window in the middle of the night. Not.

To the Lord, love has an aroma all its own as His Spirit flows through us. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5: 2). Haven’t you met other believers who exude this special fragrance? It’s almost tangible, the way warm honey tastes on fresh baked bread—you just want to stand a little closer, in hopes it’ll rub off on you! I want to be like that, don’t you?

As 2 Corinthians says, “we are to God the fragrance of Christ” and “the aroma of life leading to life.” But that same aroma is perceived by the unsaved as “death leading to death.” I don’t know about you, but that calls to mind a few “not so lovely things” we found as kids on the creek bank. Eeewww. That explains some of the experiences I’m sure we’ve all had with the unsaved. Not everyone is going to likeus—count on it. But true “God-love” can be irresistible to those searching for truth.

“Dear Lord, help us get out of the way and let You “love through us”, exuding Your sweet fragrance to all we meet. Show us the things in our hearts that keep us from loving the way You do—freely, openly, vulnerable, and accepting of others. Amen.”