Do You Smell Like Jesus?
What an odd question! But did you know that as Christians, we should not only "be the light" but also "be the aroma" of Christ?"
You may be wondering how I came up with such a strange question. I read a post about how missionary Josh Oakes shares the Gospel in Central Asia.
In the article, Josh stated,
"We want to smell like God, be the aroma of Christ to everyone. For those we smell like life to, then they are going to want to be around us more. When we smell like death, they are going to distance themselves."
This makes sense. Not all people in all cultures resonate with the same things. I am more visually oriented, so it makes sense that I would resonate with "Shine the Light" of Christ.
I don't have a discriminating sense of smell. I could hardly distinguish a pair of sweaty running Socks from a rose if I were blindfolded. Thus, I have been blind, but now I see- and apparently, I need to smell better!
But what does God's Word say? Are we Believers expected to be the Light and smell like it, too? Yes! Read with me what God says through the Apostle Paul:
2 Corinthians 2: 14-17 The Aroma of Christ
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance of death to death, to the other a fragrance of life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:15 (ESV)
Here is another excellent example for answering the question, "Why should I read the Bible?" The more we read God's inspired Word, the more God reveals Himself to us.
This isn't the first time I've read 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; however, it is the first time I've become aware that we carry Christ's aroma everywhere we go.
When we share the Good News, we are not peddling God's Word; rather, we are permeated by it, which can be seen and smelled by God and others.
I pray that we become so infused with God's Word that His preeminence in our lives is clearly seen by all we meet. As importantly, I pray that the aroma of Christ fills the senses of everyone who walks past us each day. May we smell so much like Jesus that the lost and broken are drawn to our Lord and Savior. Amen.
