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July 9, 2004
Fragrance
Do you like sweet smelling flowers? There are many kinds of lovely flowers in the world: roses, violets, lilies, orchids, marigolds, carnations ... . While they all look beautiful in bouquets, they do not all smell good. As a matter of fact, some are offensive! Orchids are lovely but have very little fragrance. Marigolds are also beautiful, but are repugnant. Even to insects!!! But look at the tiny violets. Small as they may be, they have a very sweet fragrance.
Many places in the Bible talk about pleasing fragrances.
John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Philippians 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Were you aware that each of us has a fragrance to God? What kind of fragrance do you emit to God? Is it pleasing? Or does it just have the appearance of being pleasant? Is God pleased with our attitudes, our deeds, and our faith in Him? How are we in God's sight? Do we have the sweet and pleasant aroma of a violet? Or are we like the orchid, beautiful but very little fragrance? Or are we the marigold, beautiful but repugnant?
Let us all resolve in our hearts to be more like the violet, tiny but fragrant and not a marigold, which only has the appearance of fragrance.
Lord, thank You for Your Son Jesus, the perfect fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Help each of our lives be fragrant offerings, acceptable sacrifices, pleasing to God. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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July 9, 2004
Fragrance
Do you like sweet smelling flowers? There are many kinds of lovely flowers in the world: roses, violets, lilies, orchids, marigolds, carnations ... . While they all look beautiful in bouquets, they do not all smell good. As a matter of fact, some are offensive! Orchids are lovely but have very little fragrance. Marigolds are also beautiful, but are repugnant. Even to insects!!! But look at the tiny violets. Small as they may be, they have a very sweet fragrance.
Many places in the Bible talk about pleasing fragrances.
John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Philippians 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Were you aware that each of us has a fragrance to God? What kind of fragrance do you emit to God? Is it pleasing? Or does it just have the appearance of being pleasant? Is God pleased with our attitudes, our deeds, and our faith in Him? How are we in God's sight? Do we have the sweet and pleasant aroma of a violet? Or are we like the orchid, beautiful but very little fragrance? Or are we the marigold, beautiful but repugnant?
Let us all resolve in our hearts to be more like the violet, tiny but fragrant and not a marigold, which only has the appearance of fragrance.
Lord, thank You for Your Son Jesus, the perfect fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Help each of our lives be fragrant offerings, acceptable sacrifices, pleasing to God. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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