Sometimes I Stinketh

My favorite fragrance often causes people to stop me after passing them in a store aisle to tell me I smell good. Some even take the time to ask its name and where they can get it.

I know what you’re thinking so I’ll pause here for a brief commercial break.

It’s Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk, an affordable body oil with a light, earthy scent. You can find it at Ever-man’s in Pensacola, Fl., or on Amazon.

Now, back to my original message.

While I am happy that some people find the scent of my body oil pleasant, I am more conscious of a different aroma.

It’s a fragrance so powerful that it’s capable of pouring out of my being, onto everyone I meet.

It’s a potent, pleasing fragrance for even the most sensitive person!

It’s the walking, talking, serving, sacrificial living, smells-like-Christ fragrance.

At this point, I’ll borrow three words from Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) that sometimes characterize my own life if I’m not careful: Stink! Stank! Stunk!

To put it delicately… sometimes I stinketh! The nose knows.

However, the sweet aroma of Christ isn’t something I can hurriedly spray or roll on to cover the stench that results from my sin.

The creator of the person attached to this nose knows my heart.

~ out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. ~ Matthew 12:34

I may clean up nice, but what I say and the tone I use to say it exposes what’s really in my heart.

By the way. Stinkin’ thinkin’ isn’t compatible with the aroma of Christ.

Instead, I should:

~ think on what’s true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable”. ~ Philliphians 4:8

I’ve got to work on this!

Every Christian should seek and want the holy essence of Christ - His gracious, selfless love and the willing sacrifice of His life, which led to eternal life for those who believe.

To keep it, we must be in a relationship with Jesus, daily confess and address our sins and live sacrificially for Him.

When we have it, it is evident by the fruits of Christ spilling out of us and onto others:

~ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. ~ Galatians 5: 22-23

Then, whoever we encounter can experience a lingering, pleasing aroma of Christ that spreads to others. It’s not something they smell, but rather a divine experience.

~ little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth”. ~ 1 John 3:18

~ in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”. ~ Matthew 5:16

When their babies were little, our two daughters worked. I had the pleasure of keeping two of three of my grandchildren in my home.

After I had kept them all day, on separate occasions, both girls picked up their child to snuggle and said, “you smell like Lolli”! Even then, I wore a store bought fragrance. My scent had rubbed off on them.

That’s my goal. I want to be so close to Christ that others say, “you smell like your Jesus!” I want HIS fragrance oozing from my pores. I want everything I say and do to reflect Christ.

Please understand. The fragrance of Christ is sacred. When we have it, it’s not about performance. It’s about drawing people into His presence. Certainly His aroma can give any space a holy atmosphere.

So how do you get this fragrance?

~ believe in the only living, loving God who sent His son, Jesus, to walk in love among us here on earth all those years ago.

~ believe, accept and follow King Jesus - the perfect man who willingly died for our sins so that we can live with Him eternally, who defeated death and rose again. ~ John 3:16, Romans 6:9

I believe in God and accepted Christ, His son, as my Savior at age 17. I don’t regret it. I no longer desire the things of this world. It’s not my home, I’m just passing through! God is so good to me. He guides me and His strength carries me. He is a loving, forgiving God who is gracious and merciful to me. Because of my decision I am His child and He loves me unconditionally. I desire to be like Him.

I also believe the Word of God is inspired, infallible and inerrant.

~ be imitators of God, as beloved children.

~ walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” ~ Ephesians 5:1-2

~ All scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-16

Recently, for the first time, my two-year-old grandson repeated something he had heard his parents say. I love watching him listen and study their every word and move. He loves and trusts them and is beginning to model what they teach!

Just like our children imitate us, we should imitate our Heavenly Father and sacrificially live to honor Him. Get to know Him through His words. Love Him, love others. Be obedient. Serve Him, serve others. Do this messy life alongside other Christians who encourage and model Christ.

If we do these things, our divine fragrance may cause someone to stop us, ask its name and how they can get it.