What’s that smell?

The perfume Sam brought home from Paris.

Do you wear perfume or cologne? My husband gets migraine headaches from heavy fragrances, so we have to be very careful in our house with fragrances we wear.  I love have one fragrance I love to wear because it is light and fresh smelling and it doesn’t cause him any problems.

My son, Sam, came home from his study abroad trip bearing gifts for everyone.  He obviously put a lot of thought into the items he selected for each of us. He brought his sister French perfume he was told can only be purchased in France.  It is light and sweet spelling and matches her personality perfectly.  He said he spent hours in perfume shops smelling different fragrances looking for the perfect one for her.

Sam wanted something that wasn’t overbearing or offensive.  He wanted something that wouldn’t cause his father to have a splitting headache. He made the perfect selection for her.  It is a lovely fragrance you notice, but it isn’t overpowering.  It is pleasant to the senses and lingers when she leaves the room.

We are called to be the aroma of Christ.  We are to spread Him where we go without being offensive or overbearing to those who encounter us.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says,

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.”

Are you spreading Christ where you go? If so, are you a pleasant fragrance that leaves others blessed or are you offensive or overbearing? We will never lead others to Christ by debating them into the Kingdom or by offending them there.  We will only usher them to the throne room through humility and love, just as Christ Himself.

What kind of a smell are you leaving behind?