Challenged To The Core - Kathi Brixey

Walking into the room all you can think about is food, what is that enticing smell? Could it really be what it smells like? No, not yet, it’s too early. Yet it is an unmistakable scent. Thoughts of family and laughter, mixed with a beautifully set table full of wonderful, delectable treats begin to fill your mind. The aroma is a little stronger over there, perhaps it is sitting on the table. Although, it does appear to be coming from the direction of the kitchen. Where is it, it must be here somewhere? Is it in the oven, on the counter? No. Alright, who’s messing with your mind? What’s this, a can of Pumpkin spice room freshener? Oh man! Now you’re hungry for pumpkin pie and the holidays. That was a cheap trick! What types of smells evoke memories for you? Are they good ones, I hope so. However, there are scents that bring about very negative memories for us. For some the smell of chalk dust brings us right back to that second grade classroom chore of beating the erasers together to clean them because we were disruptive in class that day. The smell of walking into the hospital (any hospital, they all seem to smell the same) might bring back scary memories, or joyous ones too. The point is that aromas either sweet or otherwise always send our minds to a particular day or event in our life. In 2 Corinthians 2: 14 it talks about “the fragrance of the knowledge of Him” it goes on to say in verse 15, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” Think about that for a moment, we are a sweet aroma to God because of our spreading the “truth” about who Christ is.

Did you know that you are an aroma to God? That is quite a responsibility and a huge honor. It is amazing to me that God would choose me to be His ambassador here on earth. That He would be pleased with me for the shear fact of my being obedient to what He has called me to do. He has given me everything that I need to fulfill that calling and He blesses and walks before me daily. All I have to do is be obedient. With all that He has given me I am still a sweet aroma to my Heavenly Father just for expounding on His grace and mercy in my life. However, (you knew that was coming) when we fail to spread the truth of who Christ is and His salvation we no longer smell sweet, but rather I am sure, quite the opposite. Now if you are a parent, more specifically a mom, and are raising little boys you know that when they have been hard at play they have a “fragrance” that is very distinct. Even though they smelled clean and fresh at the beginning of the day, that can change at a moments notice. They are no longer joyous to be around and don’t have a positive influence on those around them. Much is the same for us as Christians, when we stop telling others about Christ and sharing the Truth of who He is and what He has done for us we become complacent and loose our joy and influence with others. We are no longer an aroma of Christ to God.

For some of us sitting down with someone and sharing Christ with them can be frightening to say the least. So until you have the confidence to do that let your life be your voice. Walk with confidence in your salvation, practice what God is teaching you every day. Be the person that He has created you to be. Show others that you are a child of God. Then during this lifestyle modeling start praying that God will give you the confidence and wisdom to begin to verbalize who you are in Him and what He has done for you. He will give you the strength to speak out and the opportunity to testify for Him. After only one time of stepping out in faith and speaking to someone you begin to gain confidence in your ability. For some of us after just one time you couldn’t shut us up. There is a special peace that engulfs you when you are in the will of God and walking in obedience to His calling on your life. We receive so much from God and we deserve nothing, yet He is so faithful to us. My goal in my life is to strive to find more and more ways to be a sweet aroma to my Father. To learn more and to speak more boldly for Him. Just like walking into a house filled with the fragrance of something great cooking I would love for those around me to smell the fragrance of God at work in me. To know that His spirit is so evident in me that people see it and want it too! Wow!

I love it when a scripture passage speaks in such a way that I become convicted by the Holy Spirit, yet encouraged all the same. Are you a sweet aroma to God? Do you speak with boldness and love to those around you of who Christ is? Don’t try to take on the world in one day, just start. As you check your pulse this week, I encourage you to really pray about how you will begin to be a “sweet aroma.”