For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being
saved and those who are perishing.
Big Apple Bagel serves the best bagels in
Cincinnati. They are the perfect balance of chewy and light. If you stand
outside in front of the big picture window, you can watch the bakers process
the delicious treats. They pull the dough into an "o" shape, boil them
in water, then bake them to a golden brown. When you walk in the door, the
smell hits you. That luscious fragrance of fresh baked bread.
Research has shown that smells tug at our memory.
Every time I inhale the scent of fresh cut wood, visions of my grandpa come
back to me. We had an elevator at work that smelled like oil and metal and reminded
me of my dad. A fragrance can conjure up a happy moment and bring back sweet
memories.
Odors attract or repel.
As followers of Jesus, Paul says we are the
"pleasing aroma" for people who believe and those who don't. As the
odor of Jesus, we should smell sweet, drawing others to him. Most everyone has gotten
a whiff of a skunk. They reek. The stench they give off isn't a pleasing aroma,
instead their smell insults the senses. We've all sniffed a flower. Flowers
spread a lovely perfume that draws bees and butterflies. Jesus wants his
followers to smell like flowers instead of skunks. Our fragrance reflects our
behavior and our faith. People will know Jesus by our aroma of grace and
kindness.
Are people attracted to Jesus by your scent? Or are they repelled?
