Feb 25 – SWEET FRAGRANCE !

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2: 15).

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world, like a guiding light and like a city that is set on a hill. You are also the sweet fragrance of Christ, to the whole world.

What is the meaning of being the sweet fragrance of Christ? It refers to the life of testimony that you live for the Lord. If your life is holy, without blemish or without stain of sin, it will pave way for those who witness your life, to be led to Christ. And it will help in redeeming them, and to be brought into the fold of Lord Jesus.

There is no need for an advertisement for sweet fragrance. It does not promote itself by saying ‘I am here. Please come over’. When it gently gives out its pleasant aroma, many are attracted towards that.

Thousand of bees are attracted by the smell of a flower, even from a long distance. Your testimonial life, like a sweet perfume, will attract many people to taste the love of God, even without you speaking a single word.

Today the sad reality of many Christians is they live life in a manner that emanates a stink, instead of giving out a sweet fragrance. They are caught up in lies, corruption, transgression from truth, evil scheming, drugs and adultery. Because of these, they lose their testimony, and cause the Name of the Lord to be blasphemed among those from other faiths.

They ridicule and scorn by saying, ‘how can a Christian behave like this?’ – and they curse and condemn the Christian way of living. While you may be looking at the world with one pair of eyes, always remember that the whole world is watching you with a thousand pairs of eyes. Just consider as to how you are leading your life: as a sweet fragrance for the Lord or as someone emanating a foul smell.

You should examine yourself every day in the presence of the Lord, and ask whether you are a sweet-smelling perfume for the Lord to attract others to taste the love of God. Or whether you are emanating a foul smell and be a cause for the Lord’s Name to be blasphemed. Make it a point to elevate the Name of the Lord every moment of your life, through a testimonial life.

Children of God, preserve your life of testimony, with holiness and fear of God, so you can be a sweet-smelling aroma for the Lord.

Verse for further meditation: “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2: 14).