2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV) 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph
in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every
place.
Earlier this spring a group from our church was going to meet at the church to
go somewhere. It was one of the first beautiful, sunny, warm spring day so we
waited outside for everyone to get there. All of a sudden there cam an odor that
smelled like someone had dumped some kitchen oil or grease in the yard that had
turned rancid. Come to find out it was the aroma coming from the blooms on the
Bradford Pear tree. These are trees that have a beautiful natural shape and are
one of the first trees to bloom. The blooms look great but then you get a whiff
of the aroma and it turns you off immediately.
A few weeks later it was Easter Sunday. The blooms were about all gone from the
Bradford Pears but the church had ordered a number of Easter lilies which some
people had placed around the sanctuary. When you entered it that Easter Sunday
morning the aroma was heavenly. Our minister said everyone ought to go outside
and then come back in again to enjoy the aroma again.
WE who call ourselves Christians may look like a beautiful bloom. Others may
know we go to church. We may tell others we are a Christian or that we go to
church. We might carry a Bible around or have a Christian bumper sticker on our
car. These things make us look like a bloom but what aroma are we giving off to
those who really know us?
I know that no one is perfect and that we all sin from time to time but if we
show the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. We will diffuse a sweet
aroma like that of the Easter lilies which may draw people to Jesus Christ.
What if those around you continually hear you using bad language or telling
dirty jokes? What if people see you continually doing personal work on the
employer's time? What if you get your employees to do your personal work during
your employer's time? What if people see you fly off the handle often or do many
other things that are not part of the fruit of the spirit? These people may see
you at first like a pretty bloom but when they see you doing these types of
things they smell the aroma of a Bradford pear. If they are not Christians then
they might think that there is no difference so why should they want to become a
Christian?
The apostle Paul wrote:
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (NKJV) 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
That is what we need to do to draw others to Jesus Christ. WE each need to be
more like Easter lilies and less like Bradford pear blooms.
By Dean W. Masters
homefurn@preferred.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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