Focus: Divine Aroma

Text: Eph.5:2

"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 sweet smelling savour."

I love sweet aroma. It gives me good feeling. Even God smelled the sweet aroma of Noah's sacrifice and told Himself never again to curse the ground for man's sake.

Let me share with you a very few things that are aromatic.

*Divine love is aromatic

Our text tells us that divine love and its sacrifices are good smelling to God. I repeat, the offering and sacrifice of love smells good to God. Out of love Christ offered and sacrificed Himself for us, and God smelled the aroma of it. Love is full of sweet fragrance, especially love in action - love in acts of good deeds. Wherever love makes sacrifices, it smells good.

*Divine blessing is aromatic 

Isaac says of Jacob, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed" (Gen.27:27). A man blessed of God smells sweet, even more so, when he becomes a blessing to others.

*Divine knowledge is aromatic

Paul writes, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" (2Cor.2:14,15,16). 

In Luke 11, Christ makes us understand that knowledge is a key (Lk.11:52), and here Paul tells us that knowledge is a sweet savor. It smells sweet in the nose and tastes good in the mouth, especially to those who cherish and value it.

*Divine anointing is aromatic

God says to Moses, "Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an him: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil" (Ex.30:23-25). The anointing of God is not only holy, but also aromatic. It was compounded with sweet spices, so that its sweet scent oozes out. It is both sacred and sweet.

The anointing attracts attention and impacts lives. It is the unction by which we function.

*Giving to God is aromatic

Paul says, "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God" (Phil.4:18). Our financial commitment to God smells sweet to God. Paul is excited that what God's people give to him is indeed accepted by God. God feels and smells it. God is well-pleased by the offerings and givings of His people. Nothing given to God is a waste, except it is not done by faith. Offerings of faith are sacred. Whatever you put in God's hands is never lost.

Love, blessing, knowledge, and the anointing are the savors of sweet smell.

In closing, our Lord Jesus Christ declares, "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?" (Lk.14:34). There is a sweet savour in you that you must not lose. Don't lose it; only release it! Let people around you, and even those afar off feel the aroma or impact of your love, knowledge, blessings, and the anointing! Possess the divine aroma and pass it on everywhere you go! Let people have a feel of the sweet smell of heaven around you!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter