I love different fragrances that are available to enhance your style throughout the day. It is like adding the finishing touch to your make up. Some of my favorites are scents by Alfred Sung, Chanel and Walk on Air by Kate Spade. It is nice to start your day with a fresh scent to share and when others are caught up in its scent their left captured. But there is a fragrance not like any other and it is available to everyone but not all people wear it. It is a unique, one of a kind fragrance that not only has a sweet-smelling aroma, but it also has an enhancing effect on you, but that’s not all. I love how the fragrance stimulates and causes others to take notice. It is a rare and priceless fragrance that money cannot buy, but it is most valuable and has a radiating effect and can change the mood of others around us.
The story of Mary with her perfumed oil is told of in Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-11. Mary poured on His feet the sweet-smelling fragrance of oil that was very expensive and dried His feet with her hair. Jesus was touched in His heart with her humble act and the sacrifice she made which was definitely an expression of love from her heart for Him. She poured out her love from that bottle and the sweet fragrance filled the room.
As followers of Christ we too have been poured out from His heart of sacrifice, a sweet fragrance of Christ beyond any other. We put on a lingering scent of His love every morning and it can last all day refreshing others as they pass by. It is a passionate scent of love from His heart to ours so we can share His love and His presence around us…
~A simple smile can have a great effect on someone…I remember one day at work an elderly woman walked up to me and said, “You will never know how much your smile has touched me and thank you. I won’t forget it.” Then moments later before she left, she thanked me again. That was when I realized how I carry the Lord’s fragrance in a smile. It had a lasting effect on her and whatever she was going through, it healed her hurt and the memory of my smile will linger in her heart.
~We also carry His fragrance in kind words we speak. The Holy Spirit gives us the right words to say when we aren’t sure what to answer. Luke 12:12. I have experienced this many times and I actually enjoyed it when people didn’t like me, because it challenged me to share the fragrance of Christ in doing nice things for them, showing kindness etc. and I must say it worked every time and their whole outlook changed towards me. I give God all the glory and praise for I knew it was the fragrance of Christ that poured out upon them.
~We also can radiate His love and sacrifice with His sweet fragrance in expressions of joy. I remember going to work overflowing with His joy and not long after I could see the employees around me were affected by it and they didn’t even know it. They were joyful and the Lord showed me the sweet fragrance of joy we can share in our everyday surroundings. I remember visiting a lady who was depressed, or I should say not in a good mood. I was determined to not lose my joy and about an hour later this person was laughing and in a great mood. This all may sound foreign to some, but this is what I’ve experienced, and I love to share the fragrance of Christ wherever I go. And wow, when you see the difference you’ve made in the darkness around you it is so rewarding, and God is well pleased. In God’s word it says, in His presence is fullness of joy. So, as we connect with Him throughout the day and keep the communication lines open, we are walking in His presence. He is living within us and as we acknowledge Him and keep our minds on Him, we can have a great effect on the world around us. We need to train and renew our minds because it doesn’t come naturally. I remember at the beginning of my journey I would look up Psalms and take a scripture of power and praise with me to work and meditate on it. I’d let it sink into my heart and the Holy Spirit took over my day as I kept in tune with Him.
Also, to people in the world around us they can see there is something different about us, some may not like it, but others are drawn to His Light within us. Matt.5:15,16.
~Just yesterday I met up with my neighbor that I hadn’t seen all winter, she was sitting outside on her porch. She told me how much more beautiful and younger I looked than last year, and she said she loved my hair. Well of course I smiled and thanked her but to be honest, my hair is the same color and style as it was last year and younger? mmm…well, my spirit is being renewed every day 2 Cor. 4:16. When I went in the house I knew in my heart it was the beauty of Christ she saw in me and I said to my husband, that is my desire to be more like Jesus and grow in His likeness from glory to glory. 2Cor.3:18
Let’s leave a lingering fragrance of Christ wherever we go and make a difference in the world that has grown so cold. Love & Blessings, Lollita Faith
Ephesians 5:2, 2 Cor.2:14,15.
Author June Hodgins 