Apr 04 – The Beautiful Rose!

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys” (Song of Solomon 2:1).

The rose reflects a kind of trinity in itself. It has a beautiful form, a lovely colour, and a delightful fragrance. Some flowers may look beautiful but have no fragrance. Others may have fragrance but lack beauty. But in Christ, the Rose of Sharon, everything is found together. He is exceedingly beautiful, wonderfully fragrant, and perfect in every way.

As a youngster, John F. Kennedy, who later became the President of the United States, worked for a perfumery. From the wages he earned, he regularly supported a missionary organization. In the evenings when he walked back home, the whole street would be filled with the sweet fragrance of rose perfume, that even those within the residences could recognise the pleasant fragrance and identify that John F. Kenndy is walking down the street.

The fragrance of the love of Jesus Christ has been experienced not only in those days but for nearly two thousand years by people throughout the world. He is like poured-out perfume, and even today He continues to draw souls to Himself.

A red rose has many delicate petals. Each petal is graceful, beautiful, and fragrant. In the same way, each petal reflects the nature and character of Christ.

Christ is loving, gracious, kind, compassionate, tender-hearted, One who never casts away those who come to Him, and One who performs wonders. These qualities are like the petals of the rose, revealing His glorious character to us.

His character and nature are the role model for us. Should not His nature be formed in us? Should we not grow in His image and likeness? Should we not be the fragrance of Christ? The Rose of Sharon, whose face is always in bloom, will surely cause your face also to blossom with joy.

From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Many saints, like fragrant roses that adorned the palace of the King of kings, have already passed through this world with lives full of spiritual fragrance.

Children of God, shall we surrender our lives completely to Him so that our lives may also become beautiful and fragrant? We pass through this world only once. Therefore, if we desire to do any good to others, let us do it now.

Verse for further meditation: “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).