Inspiring Words 2010-03-11
Thursday, March 11 2010 11:14 | 
Written by Suzanne West | 
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We Are the Aroma of Christ
by Lance Parrish
You know how some things just have a distinctive smell? The smell of a freshly cut lawn, chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, or the smell of a hospital when you walk in through the front doors? God created us with a powerful sense of smell. Often time’s smells are associated with more memories than any other sensory trigger. I can still remember the smell of my dad’s undershirts, sleeping in sheets that my grandmother had washed, and the smell of walking onto the hardwood for a basketball game. The sense of smell is a powerful thing.
What if we smelled like Jesus to those who don’t know him? It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? What would the smell of our Savior be and how could we emit his fragrance to others? Paul encourages the church in Corinth with these words from 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
Paul is telling the church in Corinth that they are the aroma of Christ to those who do not yet know of God’s saving works through Christ. When the church is living a life of love, humility, and constant service to those who do not know Christ, they become the aroma of Christ to those people. Paul says that Christ triumphantly leads the way for us. Christ showed us, by his life, what it looks like to have love, humility, and service towards those who need to know the good news of salvation. Paul is saying that as long as Christians are serving (like Jesus) to those who do not know him, they leave a distinct and lasting impression (much like a fragrance) in their lives. Why? Because Christ-likeness is countercultural. We seek to love – unconditionally. We exalt others – with Christ-like humility. We serve others – even our enemies.
Are you the aroma of Christ to those who do not know Christ?
Peace.