Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: In and Out (04/30/09)
-
TITLE: Pleasing Aroma
By Connie Dixon
05/05/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
How could it be that water from our drinking supply was tainted with this black stuff? Oh…ok, it makes sense. We haven’t used that tub for a few months, and obviously something had built up in the pipes. But something black? I don’t know… that’s just my theory. The point is, what came out was definitely not what went in, and I was totally taken back by it.
I heard a story about a mom who was driving with a friend in the car. She stopped on the way to pick up her 5-year old from Kindergarten. They got into some traffic and this guy pulled right out in front of her without looking, missing her car by inches. This mom was a little shook up and not too happy about what happened, but before she could say anything, her innocent daughter looked right at the guy and shouted, “Get a life, you moron!”
I wonder what God thinks about His children when He pours and pours and pours His love into our hearts, and many times what comes back out of us is a big disappointment.
Ephesians 1:4 says: Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God chose me! Were you ever chosen by one of your elementary school teachers to pass out papers, clean the board, lead the lunch line? If so, you probably felt proud and wanted to please the one who had put that trust in you.
God chose me…shouldn’t I want to please Him? Shouldn’t I want to be obedient, follow His example, do the things He implores me to do?
Philippians 2 tells us we are not to be selfish, not to try and impress each other. We are to be humble and not think of ourselves as better than others. I am not to look out for my own interest, but look out for the interests of others.
Jesus is God, but He never threw that in our faces! He never said, “Because I said so!” Instead, He was born in a manger, He became a slave, He lived in humble obedience to God and He died the most brutal death anyone could imagine.
God poured Himself into this world; He sacrificed His only Son for you and me. Why? So we could be self-centered, hateful whiners? Of course not. Jesus was the example sent to us so that we might in turn love others as He loved us: John 13:14-15 says: And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
I know a lady at church who seeks me out every Sunday. Her words are a sweet aroma of encouragement and affirmation. I have never heard her utter a negative or destructive word. To me, she is a true example of a life submitted to Jesus. What comes out of her lips is a reflection of the truth and love poured into her.
That five-year old did not come up with those critical words on her own. The bath water that flowed from those rusty pipes was not a replica of the drinking water that ran into them. Somehow the vessels got tainted. Are you tainted? Does your pot need some purifying? 1 John 1:9 says: But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
It’s not too late to start living your life as though God intended. Today is a new day! Ephesians 5:2 says: Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
What kind of an aroma is coming out of you?
*All verses are from The New Living Translation.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Great devotion.
Mona
I like the conversational style.
Who hasn't felt that? I appreciate the connection between that, and how HE has chosen us---
Good thoughts!