Thought for July 22, 2023

•  1942: 300,000 Warsaw Jews are sent to Treblinka Extermination Camp
• Born: Sonny Liston, Alex Trebek, Prince George
• Died: John Dillinger

Thought:

I have been reading Ephesians 4-5 where Paul instructs us to walk worthy of our calling in Christ. Yesterday, he told us to walk with a transformed mind, not a futile mind. A transformed mind tells the truth, controls anger, is honest, labors to provide for self and others, and controls the tongue---a loose tongue leading to bitterness, anger, strife and slander. We are to be imitators of God. Think about that for a moment. When you grew up, who did you idolize? Who did you want to grow up to be? A parent, a coach, a teacher, an athlete? Our goal is to be like Jesus. 

In chapter 5, Paul reminds us that if we imitate God, we will walk in love. [5:2] We want to be like Jesus who offered His life as a sacrifice for us--a sacrifice that was a sweet aroma to the Father. Now, we offer our lives as a sacrifice that rises as a sweet aroma to the Father. [5:2] This immediately brings to mind how the smell affects us. The smell of our mother's cooking brings smiles and great memories. A wound that is infected has a terrible smell--the smell of death. We deplane in Jackson Hole and the first thing we notice is how the air smells--clean and sweet. We walk into a locker room or into a son's bedroom and often smell something else. Similarly, there are people who walk into a room and the air freshens, clears, sweetens. Then there are those who walk into a room and the air is dark and uncomfortable. Have you considered how you smell when you walk into a room--not your soap or deodorant, how does your spirit smell. Does it freshen the air, clean the air, bring life; or, does it smell like death walking. 

Now read 5:3-6. Paul tells us some of the things that cling to us as odors. 

• Immorality or impurity. 
• Greed
• Covetousness
• Deceptive language, double meanings, empty talk

Today Lord, help me understand what I smell like to You. Then, by Your power and grace, cleanse me so that I smell just like Jesus.

Blessings

Larry