Fragrance

What's your favorite smell?
To me the best smell in the whole world is horse.
Yep, you read that right. I love the way horses smell!

Now, most people think I'm crazy. They think horses smell like dust, dirt, hay, etc. But any horse lover will tell you that horses have a special fragrance all their own.
I love to stand right next to a horse and breathe in their rich, earthy aroma. It always leaves me with a smile and a sweet sigh of contentment.

In 2 Corinthians Paul wrote,
"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. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." (2 Cor. 2:14-16)

To God, the best smell in the world is the life of His Son, Jesus. And God has chosen to use us to spread that divine fragrance.
However, just like non-horse people think horses stink, so non-God-fearing people will often think we stink. To them we are the 'smell of death.'
But not to worry. Other people will smell in us the 'fragrance of life.'

A horse doesn't worry about how it smells. It doesn't put on perfume or use scented lotion. It just lives as a horse. Those who love horses appreciate the smell. Others don't.

I think in the same way, we shouldn't worry and fret about how people perceive our 'smell.' As we focus on just knowing Christ, He will spread His divine fragrance through us, attracting some, repelling others.

I pray that those who do come, will be able to breathe deeply of Christ in us, and be left with a smile and a sweet sigh of contentment.


Question: What do you think Jesus 'smells' like?
(See John 1:17 for my opinion.)