Christian Living

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The Right Scent
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


No so long ago I and another man went deer hunting near McAlester, Oklahoma. Waiting in a crisp Oklahoma fall morning in an area of high vegetation before a magnificent buck appeared. But before we could take aim, this creature hustled back into the thicket affording him protection from our weapons of deer destruction could do him in. It was at this moment I suggested we move to a different location. The other man wanted to stay put as he felt another opportunity would present itself, which it did. Once again, a deer walked gingerly out of the thicket then carefully sniffed the air then quickly returned.

Puzzled, the hunter wondered out loud why the deer quickly retreated back to the thicket after momentarily stepping out to the field. I told him they will continue to do this until we move to another location. He demanded to know why we should move. I explained to him that the deer know we are here. He smells our presence even though they cannot see us. It was explained to the younger man that we have the wind to our backs. So that deer cannot pick up our scent. The wind should be in our face. As soon as we changed position, the younger man was able to get his deer.

Over the years, I have watched well-meaning Christians desire to win souls for Christ make a similar mistake. They set out to win souls for Christ but their scents of legalism, denominationism, or “…my beliefs are better and higher than yours” scare potential souls sometimes forever. Perhaps such persons’ cast the scent that they know everything, too condescending or maybe their own lives have areas that need a new direction to be cleaned up. In any case, they scare potential believers away. Sad!

Prayer: Almighty Father, teach me never to leave the scent of my nature but the sweet smell of your nature and character.

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