Blog
“A Sweet Smell”
Categories: Minister's CornerI can almost smell it now! My mom’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, were the best. When my mom was cooking the aroma was almost intoxicating and I knew something good was coming. A gift from her heart, a blessing of love, prepared by precious hands, with care for those she loves. I miss my momma and her cooking!
God has prepared for us out of His rich love and mercy a beautiful blessing of love --- SALVATION through His Son. Jesus was the ULTIMATE and FINAL sacrifice for sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:12). His sacrifice stirs in us a sense of gratitude, love, service, giving, and sharing. Our graciousness honors His sacrifice and pleases our Heavenly Father. Listen to the Hebrew writer as he shares God’s word in 13:15-17 - “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
We have the opportunity to give financially so the gospel can be shared locally and abroad in order to bring others into a saving relationship with God through Jesus our Lord. We also have the opportunity to be pleasing to God not only by giving but also by obeying our elders (God’s Spiritual Shepherds) in the requests they encourage us to participate in concerning HIS WORK in the Fulshear Family. A big request right now is to continue to sacrifice weekly and give for our new building. Meeting our weekly budget is paramount to ultimately building our new building. Also, PLANNING to sacrifice for our next quarterly Special Contribution (May 19) is essential to our missions and new building.
Remember, God does not require us to give what we don’t have but to certainly have a willing heart to do what we are able (2 Corinthians 8:12) knowing that He loves our gift (2 Corinthians 9:7) and that it is a Sweet Smelling Aroma to His throne of Grace and Mercy. You see, OUR GIFTS are a sweeter aroma than my mama's fried chicken and definitely better because when we give to Him we smell just like JESUS and that is a fragrance that God loves.
Listen to Paul in these two passages, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2 - “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Our Lord not only says but shows that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Let’s follow His lead!
