I was clearing my desk area when a memory fell to the floor. I have something I call my “fall apart Bible”. This is the Bible my parents gave me when I was in high school. It has seen many years and continues to be my favorite place to spend time in God’s Word. The pages are worn, which means they fall open easily to favorite passages. Perhaps the biggest problem is that its binding has given up trying to hold onto the first pages of Genesis as well as those thick blank pages found at the start of most books. I have them collected and stuffed in my Bible cover because years ago I documented some sweet memories on those blank pages. As I picked up the stiff papers I looked over my scribbling in the faded ink. There, amidst numerous other documented moments in the life of my daughter, was a memory I had almost forgotten.
Ashley, age 10…as I put her to sleep and brushed her cheek with my fingertips : “we had barbecue last time you did that”… “What?” I replied… Ashley: “I remember thinking how good your fingers smelled”.
I am not too sure why I felt compelled to write this down in my Bible, but I am glad it was there today.
An aroma can trigger everything from memories to emotions. Scents can cling and linger. They can delight or cause us to squinch our noses in disgust (yep, just made up that word “squinch” hopefully you are picturing a pinched forehead and wrinkled up nose). Aromas matter. We mask foul odors in our home, treat odorous bacteria with deodorant, gravitate toward Cin-A-Bun stores, and veer away from decaying matter.
Soooooooo, what kind of aroma are we giving off? It is not the odor of our being that exist due to, or lack of, personal hygine, that I speak of…I am referring to the aroma of Christ. In 2 Corinthians Paul speaks of the aroma of Christ. Victoriuous generals would parade their captives and soldiers through town. Crowds would cheer and the sweet smell of burning spices would fill the air.
Christ is our victor, we are His captives ushered before the world to testify to His victory. As the gospel of Christ is released through Christian testimony, it is a sweet smelling aroma.
“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.” 2 Corinthians 2:14&15
We are sort of like those barbecue scented fingers…our testimonies are a sweet smelling reminder of something VERY good, even better than barbecue…the grace of God through His son Jesus Christ!
Tuesday With Teri 