The Fragrance of Love

The Fragrance of Love

Words of Faith 11-13-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Colossians 3

[14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

       Jesus is almost done fitting us with our new clothes.  The Heavenly Haberdasher has provided an entirely new wardrobe—a new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.   We wear the clothing of Christ Himself—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  We wear the fabric of forbearance, leaning on one another as we put up with the imperfections in each of us.  We wear the fabric of forgiveness, not holding grudges or blame but instead extending grace, favor, and pardon.

        What else could there be?

        Over all these virtues put on love.  We must understand that love is not just another piece of clothing… but it is part of the wardrobe.  We might think of one who dresses for a special occasion and then chooses a very special fragrance, perfume or cologne, that goes on lightly over all the rest.  Fragrance is the final touch that binds everything together.  Love is the bouquet that permeates all of the clothing of Christ.  As believers, we wear the fragrance of love.  Love is the fragrance that provides the perfect cover and bond holding the garment of Christ together in perfect unity and holding the Body of Christ together in unity.

       Love is the scent, sometimes bold and sometimes delicate, that pulls everything together and holds everything together.  It is sometimes a light fragrance hardly noticed but preceding a person into every situation.  At other times it is the strong scent that changes everything in a room. 

       When Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with an entire pint of pure nard, the room was filled with the fragrance of the perfume, but also with the fragrance of her love for Jesus (John 12:3).  Worship is a place where we break the vessels that hold our adoration and pour out completely our love for Jesus.  The fragrance of that love fills the room.

       It is interesting that some people are allergic to physical fragrances and get very sick when exposed to perfumes. The same is true for spiritual fragrances.  Sin and evil are allergic to the fragrance of love.  Sin and evil become deathly ill in the presence of the scent of the cross and its power.  Our sinful nature within us is repelled by the bouquet of Christ and His love.

        Paul wrote to the church at Corinth—Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life (2 Cor 2:14-16).

        We are to live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2).  It is this fragrance of the love of Christ that awakens people whom God is calling to life, salvation, and hope.  It is the same fragrance that is a stench to the worldly who are perishing.  Those you encounter will either be enchanted by the cologne of Christ's love, or repulsed by it.

        So how is your bouquet?  Of course, the things we think, say, and do reflect the aroma of life in Christ, but are there other ways that the love of Christ is quietly evident when we enter a room?  Sometimes the love of Jesus is expressed in what we don't say—the obvious words of criticism or condemnation.  It is also the case that the love of Jesus is available simply by our presence… not saying a word.  

       Father God, give me the fragrance of the love of God in Christ.  Permeate everything that clothes me.  Fill the thoughts of my mind and the words of my heart and lips.  Give the love of Christ gracefully through my actions into every room I enter, and every conversation I have.  In Jesus' Name. 

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