This is a continuation of my thoughts from my previous post, so if you haven't read it, you should check it out.
A mission re-entry is taking place here at the Harrisburg Discipleship Center, and we have morning devotionals together. Yesterday morning I talked about the picture I took (shown right). Today I brought it up again and we expounded more on my third point. What we discussed is this:
Our attitudes affect our fragrance.
I mentioned how last night I thought about my life apart from Christ, and how there was great evidence I wasn't in a relationship with him. The part of my past life that stuck out was my relationship with my family. I was extremely self-centered back then, and family life was affected from this. I didn't have good interactions with them, and they often got upset with me (understandably so). I treated my sisters terribly and didn't care what they thought of me. We never talked about God or Christianity (at least with me), and I probably would not have had much to say anyway.
But now, having a relationship with God, my family life has changed for the better. I have great times with all my sisters and no longer treat them poorly. We also naturally talk about our relationships with God, something of which we all share.
Thinking back on this change (and others) allowed me to see how God has changed my life by being in relationship with me. This is what our fragrance should be: an overflowing love of God for who he is and for his grace given to us. God gives us this fragrance by making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and giving us a new heart and his Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
This is crazy love! We can't forget that we were once "cigarette butts." Our new identity in Christ should never get old. His grace in our daily lives continues to give us the "fragrance of the knowledge of [Christ]" (2 Corinthians 2:14). This overflow of love (the fragrance of Christ) is what gets the attention of "cigarette butts." People know crazy love when they see it. When "roses" show love to "cigarette butts," they notice something is different, in a good way.
A friend of mine, who doesn't yet know Jesus relationally, noticed this in my life (remember, by the grace of God). I'll never forget what my friend said after visiting me one weekend: "You make me want to be a better person." My friend could smell the fragrance of Christ in me and my family. This is how God spreads his love and "fragrance:" through changed "roses."
But back to the point: Our attitudes affect our fragrance. Our motivation for our interactions with those who don't know Christ should never be obligation. You are not indebted to Christ. You could never pay him back if you were, because he gives us his grace in our lives every day. We depend on his love, faithfulness, and character daily. We need to remain in the Living Water (John 4:10, 15:4) to have the fragrance of Christ. If we don't do this, we will start smelling like a "cigarette" again.
So in summation, stay in the Living Water and remember that you once were a "cigarette butt," but now God has given you a new identity. And spread the fragrance of Christ!
Our attitudes affect our fragrance.
I mentioned how last night I thought about my life apart from Christ, and how there was great evidence I wasn't in a relationship with him. The part of my past life that stuck out was my relationship with my family. I was extremely self-centered back then, and family life was affected from this. I didn't have good interactions with them, and they often got upset with me (understandably so). I treated my sisters terribly and didn't care what they thought of me. We never talked about God or Christianity (at least with me), and I probably would not have had much to say anyway.
But now, having a relationship with God, my family life has changed for the better. I have great times with all my sisters and no longer treat them poorly. We also naturally talk about our relationships with God, something of which we all share.
Thinking back on this change (and others) allowed me to see how God has changed my life by being in relationship with me. This is what our fragrance should be: an overflowing love of God for who he is and for his grace given to us. God gives us this fragrance by making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and giving us a new heart and his Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
This is crazy love! We can't forget that we were once "cigarette butts." Our new identity in Christ should never get old. His grace in our daily lives continues to give us the "fragrance of the knowledge of [Christ]" (2 Corinthians 2:14). This overflow of love (the fragrance of Christ) is what gets the attention of "cigarette butts." People know crazy love when they see it. When "roses" show love to "cigarette butts," they notice something is different, in a good way.
A friend of mine, who doesn't yet know Jesus relationally, noticed this in my life (remember, by the grace of God). I'll never forget what my friend said after visiting me one weekend: "You make me want to be a better person." My friend could smell the fragrance of Christ in me and my family. This is how God spreads his love and "fragrance:" through changed "roses."
But back to the point: Our attitudes affect our fragrance. Our motivation for our interactions with those who don't know Christ should never be obligation. You are not indebted to Christ. You could never pay him back if you were, because he gives us his grace in our lives every day. We depend on his love, faithfulness, and character daily. We need to remain in the Living Water (John 4:10, 15:4) to have the fragrance of Christ. If we don't do this, we will start smelling like a "cigarette" again.
So in summation, stay in the Living Water and remember that you once were a "cigarette butt," but now God has given you a new identity. And spread the fragrance of Christ!
Great thoughts from a changed man! I love you, buddy!
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