JUST BE 30-DAY CHALLENGE
Just 30-Day Challenge
Just Fragrant – Day Eleven
Webster says ‘Fragrant’ means having a pleasant scent, odor or aroma; sweet-smelling; sweet-scented; delightful; pleasant
Synonyms: aromatic, perfumed, ambrosial, delicious, redolent, heavenly, delicate, delightful, living, fresh
GOD says in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, ‘In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance (MSG). We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God – a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing (TPT).’
Whether we like it or not, we all smell.
For some, body odor can be offensive. I had a friend once who got instant migraines when fragrance and perfumes were too potent or worn too heavily.
I am a sensual person. Fragrance emanates from my home and the ocean plays on a sound machine 24/7. I eat spicy food and I thrive in the midst of vibrancy whether color or sound or smell.
I have been in the trenches and smelled the stench of imminent death even though it couldn’t be seen by the human eye. I also have reveled in the aroma of life whether the newborn scent of a grandbaby or the birth of a dream. Lately, it has been pressing into my spirit that I am to be the fragrance of Christ and so I am wanting to understand what that means.
I am struck. When Jesus arrives in Bethany, at the burial site of Lazarus, to a tomb sealed by a large stone, he is warned of the stench of death that will seep from the tomb of his dear friend. This odor does not dissuade Jesus though, and from the stench of death, the fragrance of life walks with Lazarus from the innards of the tomb, wrapped in grave clothes. So too is Jesus, sealed in a tomb, and we know by historical accounts, for three days. Yet, never in the Scriptures does it talk about the odor of Christ, or that he bore the scent of death upon His person. Rather, it says that he bore our sin upon His shoulders so that we might become children of God. We are commanded to emulate the fragrant embodiment of the person of Jesus Christ everywhere we go. In fact, it says, we will be known as Christians by our love; not by our smell but by our love.
So, to me, that means the fragrance of Christ is our lovescent. I am to be the living and fresh redolence of Christ so that others who come in contact with me want to know what I am wearing. Yes, that happens. Often, actually. They say, ‘Um, you smell good; what is it that you are wearing?’ Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if people remarked, when they came into our presence, ‘Wow! what are you wearing?!’ Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone remarked, after having been with you or me, ‘Wow, I feel like I have been immersed in a fragrance that I don’t know but I want me some of that!’
DAY 11 CHALLENGE: Attempt to live your life today in a way that will make others want to seek the Lord. How can you do that practically? There are many ways including being slow to anger, pray for those who oppose you and trust the Lord for those things that worry you.
