Our sense of smell is powerful. The smell of coffee brewing in the morning, fresh cut grass, or our wife’s perfume can all leave a deep imprint on our souls and speak to us with even just a passing whiff. Of course, this is true with foul odors as well. And our lives should be lived in such a way that people can smell Christ through us. We are the aroma of Christ that lets others know his presence is near.
To be sure, this is accomplished in part by living morally upstanding lives. Holding ourselves to a higher standard shows others that we are not our own. Life is not just about our own happiness, and our conduct reveals the One we’re modeling our life after.
But being the aroma of Christ is much more than simply doing the right thing morally. His presence should permeate every area of our life. As such, we should smell him throughout our life and relationships.
For instance, our work should smell of Christ because we’re working to please him and not others. Success is not defined by public opinion, but rather our faithfulness in producing excellence with whatever God has entrusted to us.
Likewise, our relationships are marked with patience, kindness, and a genuine concern for the other. This allows others to smell Christ through our interactions with them – whether this is our family and friends, coworkers, or the strangers we meet in passing. Everyone is treated with dignity.
Some will smell us and be inspired to continue cultivating their own life with Christ. Our life awakens their senses to form a deeper union. But others might turn their noses up at us as we smell foul to their way of life.
Either way, our duty is simply to let our very selves be the fragrance of Christ everywhere we go.
In the end, let Christ infuse you in every way to be his lingering aroma throughout your life and relationships.
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
