2 Corinthians 2:14 J.B. Phillip’s translation.

“Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on his own triumphant way and makes our knowledge of Him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume! We Christians have the unmistakable “scent” of Christ, discernible alike to those who are being saved and to those who are heading for death.”

We continue looking today at the picture God paints of our homes. He wants them to be…

FRAGRANT

“Like aloes planted by the Lord.” (Numbers 24:6)

In the Word of God, aloes are always associated with incense, scent or perfume. God wants our lives and our homes to be filled with worship and overflowing with the fragrances of Christ. Do you remember when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair? The whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Along with spikenard, aloes would have been one of the ingredients used in that anointing oil.

In Bible times, the oriental women perfumed their clothes with oils and spices so that even their slightest movement would release sweet odors to everyone around. Oh that we could duplicate this in the spiritual realm. Oh that every word, every movement, and every look would be like lovely perfume to the Lord and to everyone in the house.

Psalm 45:8 gives us a beautiful picture of our Messiah, coming forth from the heavenly “ivory palaces” with His “garments scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia”. But He wants us to be filled with His heavenly scent in this world and in Song of Solomon 4: 13-14 it describes the bride of Christ emanating the beautiful fragrances of Christ, aloes being one of them of course.

Do you notice that in Numbers 24:6 these aloes are planted by the Lord? It is only that which the Lord plants that will give off lovely fragrance. It is only as we walk in the Spirit that we will have about us the “unmistakable scent of Christ.”

We cannot give off any fragrance of our own flesh. In fact, our flesh stinks. What kind of aromas do you have in your home? Do your family inhale the sweet fragrances of the fruit of the Spirit, or the bad smells of the flesh? We certainly don’t want the testimony of God’s people in Isaiah 3:24, “Instead of a sweet smell, there will be a stench.”

Tension and strife give off bad smells. So does unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, bickering, arguing and bad moods. Self pity is a stinky one too. Everyone in the home is affected by it. Gloom, despair and negativity fill the house with bad odors.  Ungratefulness and unthankfulness give off awful smells. And what about the “silent treatment” when a husband and wife will not talk to one another? The children hate that stench!

Are any of these bad smells lurking in your home? Perhaps it is time to have a clean out. Let go off your fleshly “rights” and ask the Holy Spirit to come in and work in your heart. Abide in Him and let Him abide in every area of your life. As you do, He will plant in your life and your home with be filled with fruit of heavenly fragrances.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh God, please convict me of anything and everything in my life that is making a bad smell in my home. Lord, sometimes I get so used to my own bad smells that I don’t realize how offensive they are and how they are affecting my husband and my children.  Lord, I yield my life to the working of your Holy Spirit within me. Plant in me the beautiful fruits of Your life so that my home will be filled with heavenly fragrance. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wondrous compassion and purity.

Oh Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,

‘Til the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”
 

P.S. References to aloes in the Word of God.

Numbers 24:6; Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 4:14; John 19:39.