[Tuesday's Devotional] - We are the “Fragrance of Christ”

We are the "Fragrance of Christ" "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15 [NIV]   A single sniff can cause an emotional response, freshly baked bread; rain on a dry path or freshly cut grass. Our reaction to a particular odour largely depends on our experience with it and what our brain remembers, I'm sure you have a few of your own favourite smells. One smell I first experienced in the Mediterranean was aromatic and intoxicatingly beautiful, it was a delight and it didn't come from the duty free perfume!  This fragrance would frequently drift my way, it was divine! Many times I had seen orange trees bearing fruit but had never smelt their blossom during Springtime, I discovered the heavenly scent was that of the Orange Blossom.  I sensed that, through smell, God was revealing the aroma he wants me to exude to those I come into contact with. There are people around us who are far from God, unsaved, broken. They are not walking through life wearing a sandwich board sign that says "Help Me" but they need God's help just the same. They are friends, sisters, brothers, neighbours, roommates, landlords and colleagues. Too often, rather than spread the fragrance of Christ I can be a real 'sour puss' Definition: 'A person who complains or grumbles, crab, faultfinder, grouch, growler, grump, whiner, crank, griper, grouser. bellyacher, sorehead. The bouquet our Father desires is, of course, 'His Spirit' bearing 'His fruit' in the lives of believers.  My mind reflects that God's Spirit is: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" Galatians 5 22:23. [NIV] However, if I were to replace 'the fruit of the spirit is……love, joy…' etc., with... 'the fruit of Dawn is…. ..' I would certainly not make the grade.  Thankfully this is not an exam, I do not have to pass or fail, but I would like to improve. We are all works in progress. Perhaps we could all honestly ask ourselves the question God has been asking me…… "How do you smell to others?"   Dawn Milward   Twitter Website Copyright © 2017 St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to the Daily Devotionals Our mailing address is: St. Matthew & St. Oswald's Church 1a New Street Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 7BE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Want to be added to our mailing list? - sign up here!