What is That Smell?

Bougainvillea at Capernaum
Israel

Prayer ~ Lord, like Paul I feel that You have been overwhelmingly generous with everything You have given me—and is that a sweet aroma that I smell? I want my very life to be a sweet-smelling sacrifice to You—following Your example.

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2

 

At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen. Philippians 4:18-20

 

Meditate. Are you offering a sweet-smelling sacrifice to the Lord?

 

In the Temple when priests offered the roasted meat—burnt to a crisp—it was a sweet-smelling aroma to God. We are a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. It is interesting that additionally, we are a sweet aroma to other believers and not so sweet to non-believers. Read this passage below. Those who are perishing smell death and doom. It is actually them that will smell dreadful.

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Who is adequate to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere? Along with the disciples who watched Jesus ascend into Heaven, we have been given the task to make disciples of all the nations.

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

By Jesus’ words, expectations, and power, we are adequate to spread His word—to tell others about Him so that they can choose to become His disciples. Go and tell others…and see what smell they perceive. What is that smell?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere. Isaiah 61:10-11

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 KJV

 

Test yourself. Did you successfully memorize this verse? Does it mean something more to you today than it did on Monday?

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.

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Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins of the Bible: New Testament Stories

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com