(This was written for our church newsletter.)
The smell of a diesel engine floods my mind with memories of a trip to London and its double decker buses. When I smell someone wearing Este Lauder’s Youth Dew, it always reminds me of my Aunt Christine. Who can resist the smell of freshly baked cookies? The band U2 in their song, Miracle Drug describes freedom like this: Freedom has a scent like the top of a new born baby's head. I know that smell and remember the first time I caught a whiff of it in the hospital holding two newborn babies. Blooming narcissus take me back to my grandmother’s back yard.
On the Day of Atonement, the Israelites are instructed to offer a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Eighteen times in the book of Numbers, they are told that their offerings should have an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In Genesis 8 after the flood recedes, Noah offers his sacrifice to the Lord. When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said He would never again curse the ground because of man. (Genesis 8:21)
Jesus calls us to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. We are to be the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15) I smelled the aroma of Christ this morning in worship as the choir sang about the sweet sound of praise. I smelled it as Dr. B challenged us to be zealous for Christ and for the lost. I smelled it as the Scalfs joined their family with Community North.
I am challenged this week is to spread the aroma of Christ through my home, my neighborhood, and even into the grocery store. Our church is a place where people can smell the aroma of Christ. They recognize the aroma in our fellowship, our Bible Study and our worship. When we go out the doors, it escapes and spreads through out McKinney and beyond. Close your eyes and take a whiff, can you smell it?
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