As I read this it made me think of the check list Christians that do things to earn something or because they feel they have too. We all need to hear, or in this case smell, the Christ-like fragrance but we must remember that when we open our hearts that fragrance is incredible in the good times and the bad. It’s not something we earn but something we love to work for. When tragedies happen it doesn’t smell bad it should smell better. One of my favorite Pastors to read is Warren Wiersbe and he said this once and it made me think. “God’s gracious encouragement helps us if we learn to endure. “Patient endurance” is an evidence of faith. If we become bitter or critical of God, if we rebel instead of submit, then our trials will work against us instead of for us. The ability to endure difficulties patiently, without giving up, is a mark of spiritual maturity.”
I say we need to open our hearts and surrender so we can say as Paul did, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” We are the ones that make a difference and we need to understand that we don’t love someone because we have to we love them because we want to. It is the same with what God did for us. Jesus came because God wants us, His love is unconditional and He has given us everything to guide us home. We don’t have to do anything except go through Jesus and believe in our heart who He is and confess it with our mouth that He is Lord. When we truly surrender and smell that fragrance we change and we are obedient because we want to be and we do it with joy because the Spirit is in us. We should thank God for His true love and remember it is for everyone and we should be passionate about sharing His love with everyone. Amen