The Aroma of Christ

It’s a little-known fact that the roses sold in the U.S. usually come from Colombia. There they are bred to be sturdy and longlasting, which is a good thing. The problem is that these genetically-refined flowers also lose their scent. Most of the roses purchased in America around Valentine’s Day are bereft of smell—a sad tradeoff for their durability.

In our call to persevere and endure hardships, we must not lose the very thing that makes us unique in this dying world—the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14-17). This is what happened to the Ephesian church (Revelation 2:1-7), and can happen to us if we are not vigilant. The “sweetness” we possess as Christians is rooted in our love for God and our hunger to know Him more deeply through the revelations He has provided—His Word, His creation, and the ways He works in our lives.

Together let us continue fanning the flame of our precious love for Jesus, and all the more as things around us seem to be getting worse. Christ is our Sanctuary, our Rock, our Fortress, and our sure Hope (Colossians 1:27)! He has overcome the world, and in Him, so have we!
 

Rose photo: 2007 © Mikhail Bistrov/iStockphoto