A Sweet Fragrance

"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.  For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."  II Corinthians 2:14-15

Hopefully, our lives have a fragrance that spills open each day and is full of pure motives, transparent honesty, genuine purity with nothing to hide.  Spending time with the Lord and allowing His Words to fill our empty jars or vessels.....our hearts, we can actually become someone who is full of God's love.  Our homes are the easiest place to protect and diffuse this fragrance.  I've had this diffuser, pictured above,  that I purchased at Pottery Barn for a while now and it still fills the rooms with a lovely aroma, each time that I stop and turn the wicks over in the jar!  It won't be long though, before it's empty and the fragrance is gone and I could just refill it with water and it would still look pretty, but it would not do what it's really intended to do... send out an aroma.  Sometimes our lives can become like that, not really what God meant for them to be. There is a word in the Greek, called eilkrineia and the word literally means "judged by sunlight".  Centuries ago, the Oriental bazaars where pottery was displayed in dimly lit rooms some pieces were patched up to cover defects with wax.  Intelligent buyers would hold up the pottery to the sun and judge its quality by the sunlight to see if it was genuine.  When sunlight enters our homes, it is like the world is just a better place to be!  Sort of like that sweet smelling aroma from the diffuser when it's fresh and full.  I hope that as we journey through our day, that we will take the time to allow the Living Word to hold our lives up to the sunlight and examine our heart and allow His Words to guide us to places we must surrender to His care.  Sometimes it is difficult-uncomfortable, but if we yield with grace......I believe He will bless that time with Him and hopefully be a vessel fit for our Master's use!  I hope we can all remember what a privilege it is:  To be a vessel filled with His sweet fragrance!