The Sweet Smell of Success?

Good morning everyone,

Pastor Hintz really brings his point home with his comparison to smells in his devotion below.  My mother's pastor had a whole sermon about the power of smells and how they can help us remember so vividly certain experiences in our lives.  I happen to love broccoli and cauliflower, but they do have a tendency to smell kinda strong (especially when you over-cook them).  

After reading Pastor Hintz's devotion, I'm imagining my sin smelling like the stuff that's been growing mold in my refrigerator for weeks.  And currently, I'm imagining the sweet smell of Jesus in my life to be like the lovely scent of night blooming jasmine that's wafting in my room as I type this.  Like my refrigerator, I need to check my spiritual contents frequently and clean out any stuff that's starting to go bad (before it starts stinking to high heaven and making me miserable).  I surely want my life to shine with the love of Jesus...and be permeated with His life giving perfume as well!

Dear Jesus - Thank you for helping me clean out the contents of my spiritual refrigerator. It's so wonderful when I am filled with freshness inside. Please help me remember that, just like my refrigerator, my soul needs frequent maintenance. If I am not keeping things fresh by daily reading your word, and maintaining my connection to you through praise and prayer, then my soul starts to get moldy and stinky.  I don't want that, and I know everyone around me really doesn't want that! But, most importantly, You don't want that for me. I am so very grateful that You are here with me, loving me...and helping me remain a sweet smelling sacrifice…to your glory. I love you so very much! Amen.

Blessings and peace,

Leah

6-3-11

I live in a house where everyone else loves vegetables.

If you know me you know that if it is green, I usually don’t eat it.

It is bad enough that everyone else in the house likes this stuff.

But then I have to smell it as well.

I hate the smell of broccoli and cauliflower!

How can people eat this stuff?

How can people stand the smell?

I know immediately when I get home what has been prepared.

It is kind of like opening a can of tuna.

You can smell it right away.

There is no disguising it.

When something is opened you know it.

Now how in the world is this going to lead to anything spiritual?

We’ll take it slowly.

In the passage below it talks about how Jesus opened their minds.

He opened their minds to what the Scriptures had to say.

Specifically he told them about how he had to suffer, die and rise again.

But as their minds are open to the Scriptures, other things are also revealed.

We come to see our sins and the need for a Savior.

We come to realize the stink that is present in our lives because of sin.

We also enjoy the sweet aroma that comes with the sacrifice Jesus made.

When our minds are opened, when our hearts are opened what do people smell?

What do others experience because Christ lives within us?

Does it have a repulsive odor or is it something that is savored?

True confession time: I know how good broccoli and cauliflower are for a person.

I would be a lot healthier if I just ate more veggies, but I don’t.

And my life might not be as good as it could be because of that.

But that is an earthly kind of thing that will matter only as long as I am here.

On the other hand, how vital it is to realize the stench of our sins.

It is essential that the foulness of sin be removed.

It must be replaced with the sweetness of Christ.

Only he can do that and may it happen to all of us!

Luke 24:45

Pastor Hintz