The Aroma of Christ

I was reading my Bible by the fire, setting it down occasionally on the stones of the firepit. When I finished, I put it back into the sleeve of my computer bag where I usually keep it. It’s my small Bible that I carry, but at home, I usually use a larger version, and it’s my “workbook” Bible. Underlines, notes in the margins, exclamation points, and questions. I note this because I didn’t pull it out again until Sunday morning for the service I was preaching.

It’s usually very early when I start my Sunday morning. I have coffee in hand, pull out my notes from my study that week, and pull out my preaching Bible. When I did, I had the strangest experience. The smell of that fire filled my senses. The pages had absorbed some of the smoke from the firepit that night. I have often heard that the sense of smell is the sense that triggers the greatest memories. I literally shivered from the memory of the cold wind from that night, smiled when I recalled the precious people who shared the fire with me that evening and was deeply pleased that this aroma had followed me, preserved for those moments that morning.

The aroma of that experience stayed with me (and even as I write this, I can still smell it every time I pull that Bible out of my bag). It made me wonder: does the aroma of Christ follow me like that? Am I allowing Christ to invade my life to such an extent that His spiritual “aroma” is evident, reminding me of His goodness and grace?

I have a prayer for this Easter season: that the aroma of Christ would be on us so that our witness, kindness, and invitations are empowered by the Holy Spirit as we seek to lead people to pursue Jesus. We will be wrapping up the 90-day challenge, and I hope that your time in the Word has been fruitful. I hope it has left an “aroma” on your life, words, attitudes, and actions. Seek it and savor it, friends.