Fragrance of Beauty
Julia Bettencourt

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And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God
for a sweetsmelling savour.  Ephesians 5:2


There's just something about roses. They have been a favorite throughout time. We must want them in our homes because they're manufactured on everything from furniture to bed linens. Lovers send them and many songs have been written about them. Why do we love roses so much? Perhaps because they are so beautiful but I think it is more than that. They are not only beautiful but they also smell so wonderful. Beauty with fragrance. What a combination!

Have you ever thought that's probably a great combination for a Christian woman to have? It would be great if not only when people saw us, they'd realize we are a Christian but after they've gotten close to us and been around us, they'd think, Wow! They smell like a Christian too.

I'm afraid some of us don't have a pleasing smell all the time. It's not anything physical. Most of us are sure to wash and slap on our deodorant as we go on our way. It's just plain and simple. Most of us don't want to stink. It's not acceptable to walk down the street and not have a pleasing body odor. So why do we think it is acceptable to be a Christian that doesn't have a pleasant smell? Sometimes our thinking is that, it's okay to stink as a Christian. We think to ourselves, that our attitude is just a little off, so it won't matter much. Or we think we'll just keep this one bad habit in our lives. It shouldn't make me smell too offensive, should it? We'll hurl harsh words at someone and walk away without a thought of the fragrance that it will leave in the air.

Ever notice that most people with body odor don't even know they have it? They've not taken care of their cleanliness in so long, they don't even know they are offending others. It's the same way with us as Christians. We start letting our attitudes slide, our time with God dwindle down, and pretty soon we're not leaving a pleasant scent on the world. The sad thing is that we've gotten used to the smell and we don't even know it's there.

There comes a time when we need to sniff under our spiritual arms and say, 'Do I stink?'. We need to get back on track to being sweet smelling women for the Lord. We need to strive to be the fragrant roses God intended us to be.

Here are a few ways to cultivate ourselves to improve our fragrance.

1. Be Kind.
   Nothing smells up a place more than someone who isn't kind. It's totally opposite of what we're instructed to do.
   
   "And be ye kind one to another..."   Ephesians 4:32



2. Be Forgiving.
   How can we be sending off a fragrant smell if we hold grudges and never forgive those we know we should?
   
   "Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
   sake hath forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:32



3. Be Joyful.
   No one wants to be around a miserable person. When you aren't happy in the Lord, you rub off on other people. In other words, your bad smell spreads. Find joy in the Lord. Study His Word and have time in prayer to fellowship with Him.
   
   "And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall
   rejoice in his salvation."   Psalm 35:9



4. Be Content.
   What an odor someone who's not content can put off. Grumbling and the self pity parties usually come in tow. It isn't very refreshing to be around a discontented person.
   
   "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned,
   in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."   Philippians 4:11

Conclusion:
We can either choose to be a breath of fresh air or we can dampen the spirits of those we come in contact with. Living our lives to please and honor the Lord is important. A Christian without a pleasing fragrance won't accomplish much for the Lord. We've got to try to be more like Him, the 'Rose' of Sharon. We need to live our lives in a way where His loves flows through us and causes us to be a sweet smelling odor on the world.

Okay, what kind of fragrance did you leave as you walked today?


Copyright ©2001-2008 Julia Bettencourt
Scripture References are from the King James Version.
www.juliabettencourt.com

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