What's Your Fragrance?
THE HONEYSUCKLE IS IN BLOOM TODAY. ⠀
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It blooms for only a few weeks. Then slowly, the flowers drop and the vines begin to blend into the mess of green tangles that is our forest. ⠀
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While it blooms though, its little white flowers issue a fragrance so subtle and lovely that it stops me every time. I find myself scanning around for them, so I can smell them up close. ⠀
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The Apostle Paul said Jesus-followers spread the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere they go. It's our job. ⠀
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In fact, I think everybody leaves a fragrance in their wake, whether they follow Jesus or not. ⠀
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WHAT'S YOUR FRAGRANCE?⠀
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Jesus was like honeysuckle all the time. Everywhere he went, regular people stopped and looked around for the source of that fragrance, and when they found it, they dropped everything to be near it. ⠀
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These days a lot of Christians are leaving a fragrance behind them that smells more like dog poop than honeysuckle, all the while telling people this is how Jesus smells. ⠀
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But that's a lie and people are not stupid. They avoid and reject the fragrance of dog poop, as well they should. ⠀
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As Jesus followers, we are meant to be channels of God's love, to let it flow through us. But if my channel is clogged with things like pride, judgement, impatience, self-interest and fear, that's what I smell like. Eau de poop.⠀
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FOLLOWING JESUS IS HARD WORK, BUT A CLEAN CHANNEL IS ONE OF THE AMAZING BENEFITS.⠀
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Jesus teaches me all the time how to keep my channel clean, so his fragrance - the one that smells like honeysuckle - flows out of me wherever I am.⠀
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On the days I've sweetened the air in subtle and lovely ways, it's not because of me, it's because Jesus has passed through me.⠀
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On the days I smell like dog poop, it's usually because my channel is clogged with something I have yet to relinquish, like fear, judgement, pride etc. ⠀
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Anything good you see in me, is Jesus alive in me. That why the daily practice of meditation and prayer is worth the effort. It's channel clearing. ⠀
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Happy spring!⠀