Can You Smell Me?

2 Corinthians 2:15

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing I believe it was Scottie Pippen a long time ago who had a commercial with speed stick deodarant he said, "The best defense is not to offend." He was referencing body odor. It's so important that we aslways have good hygiene so that we do not offend the people around us.



I was reading the instruction for our intercessors sent out by their ministry leader the other day. She was informing them on how they should pray with people at the altar. It was itneresting to discover that among the instructions on how to pray, there were also instrucitons on hygiene such as putting mints in their mouth for fresh breath and making sure fingernails were clean and manicured. It's important that when we minister or serve people we do not offend them by the way we smell.

You should always make sure you floss and brush your teeth, go see the dentist every six months. Keep mints in your pocket or purse. Make sure your deodorant is strong enough for your body chemistry. Men should wash their hair at least 3 times a week and women at least once a week. You want to make sure that you don't offend people by the way you smell. My mother always said, "You ought to be able to smell yourself" but if you don't it's always good to have a friend who will tell you the truth. Can you smell me?

When we are amongst people in ministry we are to be the Aroma of Christ. My staff says that I have a sensitive nose. I can walk into a room and tell you what you had for lunch. I can smell just about anything. It's a gift and a curse. LOL. But there is someone else whose nose is more sensitive than mine. God has a sensitive nose! God doesn't just smell our skin but he smells our sin. He doesn't just smell our scent but he can also detect our decent into moral decadence.

God can smell our intentions and our Holiness. That's why the Psalmist said, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you O' God." When God grew tired of corrupt religious practices in Israel he told the prophet Amos, "I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me." Amos 5:21

God said that he would rather have justice and righteousness than a bunch of religious activity with no conviction behind it. When we are living out the teachings of Jesus we are a pleasing aroma to God.

Did you know you can smell good to God and stink to others?

Whenever i travel from America to the Middle East I know i've crossed over into foreign territory because the smells change. A lot of Easterners don't wear deodorant and they think Westerners stink! They think that the natural pheromones of perspiration are more attractive then the masquerade of deodorant that Westerners wear. Culturally we stink to them!

To some in America, Christians stink. We smell like death because when we truly represent Jesus we are a reminder that culturally we stink. We are dead to the ways of this world, we are free from the masquerade of psuedo success. We are offensive becasue our values are counter cultural, but to those who are being saved we are a pleasing aroma. They didn't know that life stripped of the illusion of success and materialism could smell so good.

When people see you filled with Joy, walking in Love, and practicing compassion they might ask you what it is that you have on? You can tell them, "Oh that is just Lily of the Valley."

Cleanliness is next to Godliness but Righteousness keeps you close to God because that smells good."

Dear God,

I pray that others smell the aroma of Christ on my life. Search me and if you find anything offensive in me that would block somebody from getting to Jesus please take it out right now. Clean me up, wash me, and make me Holy. Today, let me be a pleasing aroma to you and others.

In Jesus Name,

Amen