Fragrance of Christ
Today I sat on the patio eating cookies and milk with my dog, when my husband brought me a twig off our lemon tree. The fragrance was a mixture of citrus and spice...wonderful! I told him it reminded me of when I heard someone say (don't recall who) that we can't truly have the fragrance of Christ until we have been broken. The same is true for many spices, until you shave off the rough exterior or crush the woody stems, these plants are nearly useless for their function in cooking and baking.
The idea of being broken, shaved or crushed doesn't sound too appealing to me. Yet looking back over my life, those times when I have been broken have produced the most fruit for Christ. Those difficult times were also the most life changing for me as well as others around me. How will I respond the next time I am crushed...stinky or fragrant? Will my actions draw people toward Christ or send them fleeing?
The idea of being broken, shaved or crushed doesn't sound too appealing to me. Yet looking back over my life, those times when I have been broken have produced the most fruit for Christ. Those difficult times were also the most life changing for me as well as others around me. How will I respond the next time I am crushed...stinky or fragrant? Will my actions draw people toward Christ or send them fleeing?
Spices in an open air market in Spain, now that's fragrant!
2 Corinthians 2:14
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.
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.
Amen. Well said.
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