Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Ephesians 5: 2 (NLT)
Here’s a thought for all we face today.
A number of years ago, when Lynda and I visited Hawaii with dear friends, one of our stops was on the small Island of Lanai where we stayed at the Lodge at Koele on the top of the island. Behind the Lodge just within walking distance from our bedroom was a greenhouse with hundreds of varieties of orchids.
Walking into the greenhouse, the fragrance was overwhelming—but absolutely beautiful, as were the many flowers of every shape and color. When you walked out of the greenhouse, with fragrance of the flowers clinging to your clothing—everyone knew where you had been.
The aroma followed you wherever you went.
It’s the same with us, in our relationship with Christ. The depth and commitment of our growth in Christ gives off an “aroma” to those around us. When we follow His example, we should be able to be easily distinguished from someone following their own ways, or the ways of the world not aligned with Christ.
And even more importantly, when we act like Christ to the world around us, perhaps others would begin to do the same.
I wonder if we don’t need that in our world today.
With or without the trip to the Island of Lanai. But as followers of Christ it seems we need to remember that we are to be that example of Him to others. We are to give off that aroma of Him to the world around us.
With one of the anticipated hopes being that those who sense that aroma in our words, our actions and manners, would themselves begin to embrace living that out in their life, and ultimately to embrace the manner and life of Christ themselves.
We are called to be that example of Christ to others. To be that to everyone—our spouse, children, grandchildren and Godchildren, players, coaches, as well as friends, neighbors, business associates, and all those others around you. And in the process and by our words and actions, to help them also to grow to be that example of Christ in the world.
Maybe we all need to regularly spend time in the “greenhouse” with Christ. Time which allows us to capture, or recapture, that aroma of Christ, which we then can and should share with the world around us.
The aroma of Christ.
You know, it just may work.
In His Name–Scott
