What Is That Smell?

by | Mar 23, 2014

Leviticus 1: 9b   And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

As you read about all of the burnt offerings in the Old Testament one of the things that tends to stick out are the words, “a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”  Over and over for every offering that is brought those are the words and then in the New Testament in Ephesians 5:2 it says, “And walk in love, as Christ also loved us and has given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Is there something you just love the smell of?  Maybe you have a favorite perfume or candle or maybe it’s your husbands cologne.  We all seem to have certain scents that either bring us comfort or inspire love or remind us of our childhood, I even have a shampoo from Aveda that for some reason the mint smell is a scent I just love.  It is amazing how certain scents bring out different and often strong emotions in us. For God, it was the scent of their obedience!

God didn’t need their flocks or grains, He desired their obedience.  He gave them structure and rules and guidelines for absolutely everything because He didn’t want them to wander away from Him. He desired their love and companionship which would be reflected in their obedience to Him.  God desires the same from us today.  We are no longer asked to burn sacrifices but we are commanded to be obedient.  The more you love Him the more you have a desire to be obedient to all that He asks of you.

Is there something today that God has spoken to your heart about and you know you need to pay attention and be obedient, it may even seem little but you know you need to adjust something in your life?  The pleasure you bring God by your simple obedience surpasses anything else you can do today.  Set your mind to get out of bed every morning with the goal of pleasing Him, asking Him for His direction for your life instead of insisting on your own path, ask Him for a clean heart and a right spirit.  Just those simple little changes in your morning prayer will deepen your relationship with Him and strengthen your faith.

Quote:  “Decision is the spark that ignites action.  Until a decision is made nothing happens.”  Wilfred A. Peterson

0 Comments