something smells

'Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.'*

...enjoy a little Vivaldi as you read this post... 

 

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 Spring is here! And all my senses are waking up! I am noticing things I didn't know were missing, including, ants (can't say I missed the flies!)! I can hear birds and water flowing. I can feel the warm sun on my skin and the grass under my feet. I didn't notice just how little I have been using my nose until spring arrived. And suddently I can smell dirt, flowers, manure, rain, pollen...

I have been enjoying living for the last 2 months near a river, I walk to it every couple of days. It thrills me to see everything change slowly from what appeared -at least to me- as dead, now blossoming with colours! Fresh. Fragrant. Full. The fragrance of spring brings hope to my heart that life and growth do exist -even in unlikely places-, and so I seek to emulate spring by sharing the joys of life in fellowship with God; the Creator of such a pretty season!!

How did God walk? Not litterally, how did he put one step in front of the other, but what is God's example? There are a few places in the Bible where God walks, the ultimate walk was Jesus' walk to the cross. As you read the four Gospel accounts one thing is clear, Jesus went willingly. He didn't put up a fight, or give reasons why it was all a mistake. Instead, he was silent and went without a fight. He didn't do it to save face and 'be brave until the end'. He walked in the way of love, willing to die so that God's anger could be satisfied, and we could be spared.

This good news is not something to be kept behind closed doors, but to be shared! The Acts of the Apostles recount of people going out and telling of this life changing information. Paul was very passionate about spreading the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.*** In the synagogue in Thessalonica he 'went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined'.**** Paul later, when writing to the church in Corinth, explains that:

 'Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.'***

I tell what I do because I believe it to be true, but also because I have been given the Spirit of love, self control and power*****. I share knowing that God has given me (and all Christians, for that matter) a task to do here on earth, to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour. We do this with Christ's authority. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.'******

And so I ask myself, am I smelling? How smelly am I? I'm not asking myself when I last had a shower, but rather how intentional I am living my life. Are you living intentionally? Are you smelling? How smelly are you?

*Ephesians 5:1-2
**Vivaldi The Four Seasons 'Spring' 
***2 Corinthians 2:14-17
****Acts 17:2-4a
*****2 Timothy 1:7 
*****Matthew 28:18-20b