His Irresistible Fragrance

His Irresistible Fragrance

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. . . . You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. . . . Don’t participate in the things these people do. Ephesians 5:2, 5, 7

Have you ever walked into a greenhouse full of beautiful, fragrant flowers—orchids, gardenias, roses, and other aromatic blooms? Immediately, the air seems heavier than it is outside, densely perfumed with the flowers’ scents, so much so that if you spend a few minutes inside the greenhouse, the fragrance of the flowers clings to your clothing long after you’ve left. You know that’s true because when you come into a different room filled with people, they know where you’ve been just by the fragrance you give off.

Flowers aren’t the only things that have a penetrating fragrance. People do too. Those who have the aroma of Christ have a pleasing fragrance, but people who intentionally sin give off a sickening stench to God.

When we follow Christ’s example and imitate Him, we should be able to easily distinguish when someone is following their own sinful desires. We shouldn’t partner with people who fall into the traps of the world, who deem ungodly behavior both acceptable and commendable. We should be in the world and yet careful of our associations within the world. We need to be so immersed in Christ and God’s Word that our pleasing aroma is stronger than what the world offers.

Paul says not to be fooled by people who try to make excuses for their sins (verse 6). Peer pressure and inappropriate associations will try to throw us off track and even cause some of the fragrance of Christ to dissipate in our lives. But when we return to the greenhouse each day, it will restore us and bathe us once again in Jesus’ aroma so that people will know where we have been. They will glimpse Jesus in our faces, hear Him in our voices, and see Him in our actions; they will catch the aroma of Christ—His presence in our lives—emanating from us.

Uncommon Key > Buy a rose today as a reminder of how strongly the aroma of Christ can permeate your life. Diligently spend time with Him and follow His example so people will undeniably know whom you are imitating.