The Scent of Love
Yesterday, I had a conversation with a woman who turned out to be a sister in Christ. We chatted about some things and then she felt led to “leave me with a scripture,” as she put it. That scripture was one I had written an article about way back in 2003! As she quoted it, it brought tears to my eyes to hear someone speaking a truth that has been dear to my heart. Then I remembered, Apostle David Carey had also spoken about this in Sunday’s message! I was gladdened to be reminded and refreshed to hear it again from others, with their own flavor and aroma wafting through! I realized that God was nudging me to republish that article!
That truth is found in 2Corinthians 2:14-16. Let's look at the scriptures and an updated version of that article I wrote back in 2003:
2Cor 2:14 (Amplified) But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere, 15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: 16 To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].
2:14-16a –(J.B. Phillips) Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on his own triumphant way and makes our knowledge of him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume! We Christians have the unmistakeable "scent" of Christ, discernible alike to those who are being saved and to those who are heading for death. To the latter it seems like the very smell of doom, to the former it has the fresh fragrance of life itself.
(Which begs the question to be asked, “what kind of smell do you give off?”)
2Cor. 2:14
"But to God be the thanks who in Christ ever heads our triumphal procession, and by our hands waves in every place that sweet incense, the knowledge of Him." (Weymouth New Testament 1912)
"In 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. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation-an aroma redolent with life." (The Message)
Redolent means: Having or diffusing a sweet scent. Serving to bring to mind. Having a strong distinctive fragrance. Aromatic, evocative, remindful, reminiscent of, smelling.
Do you remember as a little kid, or perhaps as a teenager, the first time you put on some cologne or aftershave? Typically, being unfamiliar with its strength, we would douse ourselves in it, and someone would comment, "You stink to high heavens! What did you do, take a bath in it? Go wash some of that off."
Well, I think that many of us today are unfamiliar with the potency of God's love! Here in this scripture it tells us that it is a sweet smell. The King James uses the word "savor", while Darby uses the word "odour." Savor in modern vernacular, means to taste appreciatively. In King James it meant “smell or taste. To partake of the quality or nature of; or to have the appearance of.” I don't think we realize that when we are walking in God's love, we are giving off an odor! It is a smell that brings Christ to the mind of the one smelling it. It is the smell of love, the smell of life with Jesus. It is a smell that evokes powerful feelings in those doing the sampling! For if they are being exposed to God and they are on the road of destruction, their reaction will be one of two things: they will turn towards the smell and be drawn to the aroma, or they will be repulsed like one is by a dead rotting carcass. If they are on the road of life, they will be refreshed and renewed and reminded of Him. They will taste and see His goodness through our lives, by our actions, words and deeds!
So, we need to "douse" ourselves in Him! Then we will have an aroma of Love that is unmistakable! Let's look at some of the definitions of love through a compilation of various translations of 1 Cor. 13: 4-7. “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous, emulous of others (competitive with) or conceited or proud. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant. Love is not ill mannered or selfish or irritable; She does not behave unbecomingly, nor seek to aggrandize (embellish) herself, nor blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs. Love does not keep a record of wrongs; Love is not happy with evil, It isn't happy when injustice is done, but is happy with the truth. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never gives up." (Darby, GNB, GW, WNT)
I Cor. 13:1-8a - If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing. - This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience - it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. -Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. - Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen. (J.B. Phillips)
And let's also look at a compilation of Gal. 5:22-23 "The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, benignity (the quality of being kind and gentle), kindness, graciousness, benevolence; generosity, fidelity, good faith, meekness, self-restraint, goodness, longanimity (Good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence.)" (WNT, DRB, JBP.)
The Message puts it this way: "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard-things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."
Wow! No wonder people would be drawn to that kind of life. And saints, that IS the kind of life we have when we have given Christ full rule and reign in our hearts, our minds, our words and our actions! And even though we are all prone to "missing it" here and there, we still have more life and sweet aroma exuding out of us than we can imagine! It's our hands waving in the market place of this life that release that sweet smell. It is our footsteps that people will want to follow and look to see where it will lead them. And it should be our words of faith and love that they hang onto!
All around, the world is screaming negative things! Remember in the latter times we are warned that people will be pleasers of themselves.:
“People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, and lack normal affection for their families. People will be selfish and love money. They will brag, be arrogant, and use abusive language. They will curse their parents, show no gratitude, have no respect for what is holy. They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous, lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good.” 2 Tim. 3: 2-3 (Contemporary English Version and God's Word)
We are seeing this more and more in society today. Is it any wonder then, when one of us who are God's vessels, comes into the life of someone who is hungry and thirsty for love, for truth, and for hope, that they are drawn to us? Why should we be surprised? And yet, many times we are!
We need to take very seriously that verse that says, “But we have this treasure in a fragile vase of clay, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be seen to belong to God, and not to originate in us." (Weymouth New Testament 1912) 2Cor.4:7
The Message puts it so succinctly, “If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives."
But God wants to make sure that they notice something is different, so HE puts the scent of love on us and in us. Like a beautiful rose bush that is full of blossoms!
Now thank God for the precious Holy Spirit, who is busily at work in us, de-thorning any prickly points that may still remain! So as He is at work both in us and through us for His good pleasure, others are being drawn by the "strong distinctive" fragrance, because we are redolent with life! His life!
So what is it we are to do with this knowledge? We are to have our spiritual antennas up and be alert to those that God will bring our way to minister to them. And you can be assured, He will bring them! How will you know if He's given you an assignment? Here are some examples that may ring a bell.
You are in the store shopping and not really paying attention to anyone, but then you notice this other person. They keep looking at you! You think, "Gee is my blouse unbuttoned, or is something stuck in my hair?" They may look covertly, or openly. They may smile, or seem puzzled or outright stare! That is because they are being drawn, but they don't understand what is going on. They are seeing the "light of Christ" and smelling the aroma of love with their spirit man. (Yes, Virginia, everyone has a spirit man, whether they are saved or unsaved.) It is that spirit man who is crying out for God.
Perhaps you have a waiter or waitress who just keeps coming back to your table to see if you need anything else. I mean service to the point that it is obvious that something else is going on here! And something is going on! They are being drawn!
Or you step into your yard and three neighbor kids show up instantly to talk. You're on assignment! So engage yourself into their world. Ask how they are, look for things to say good about them. Love on them in the spirit and watch for the opening to plant Jesus. You may not always get to give scripture, or say a prayer with them. Be bold to leave them with a "Jesus Loves you and has a plan for you," or whatever God directs you to say and do. Sometimes you only get to smile and send the word through prayer and ask God to water your seeds of kindness. But, they smelled the fragrance! Their spirit man was stirred. God will put others in their path until they recognize the restlessness inside themselves is the real them yearning for the Real God!
So, go ahead! Douse yourself and stink up the place with the scent of love!
Word of The Lord:
Beloved, I have put you in this world as a light not a tiny flickering matchstick, but a flame that burns brightly! And just as when my priests would throw the Holy incense upon the flame of my altar and a thick cloud and a heavy aroma would envelope the tabernacle, it is the same when the incense of your life is poured as a sacrifice upon the flame of my altar. What ensues is a Divine aroma, a thick cloud of praise and intercession and a beautifying taking place. The world does not understand this, but you my children who are called to be set apart ones, you are walking in this! Your lives are that sweet smelling savor! Never once question if it is worth it, if you matter, if you make a difference. Because the answer is yes, you do, you do! So thank you for being willing. Thank you for being mold-able and pliable and responsive to my touch, my call, my voice. Thank you for smelling like Christ, and giving off the aroma of Love! Thank you for your sacrifices. I do see them and they are recorded in Heaven. I love you and I love how you make the world around you smell better. Keep it up dear one! I am well pleased.
©2003/2011 Nancy Minor
Translations used: Amplified Version, 1889 Darby, DRB/Douay-Rheims Bible 1899, GW/God’s Word, GNB/Good News Bible, and WNT/Weymouth New Testament 1912. JBP/J.B. Phillips 1958
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