How Do You Smell?

I don't know if you have ever worked the polls during an election, but I can tell you that there is a lot that happens on an election day – not to mention leading up to one.

One of the best things about working the polls where I currently live is the spread. The food spread!

A couple of weeks ago we had an election here, and I worked the polls again. And when you walked into the kitchen...

WOW, the smell was incredible!

There was barbecue, meatballs, green beans and potatoes, chili, danishes, Dunkin' Donuts, fruit, sandwiches/wraps, and one lady even made biscuits and bacon!

Now I can't say every precinct has it so good, but we did!

And now, today, is Thanksgiving Day. I was watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving this morning and the scene where Peppermint Patty was complaining about the dinner Charlie Brown had prepared (along with Snoopy and Linus) struck me.

They had made toast, jellybeans, popcorn, and pretzel sticks.

Not a bad meal to me, but Peppermint Patty just complained about how Charlie Brown did not know anything about Thanksgiving Dinner.

(video from https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/890f717c-b243-47fc-aadc-8cc77e0bac4b)

Many of us get bogged down in the preparation of all the food that we lose sight of what Thanksgiving is really about.

I am reminded that in 2 Corinthians 2:15 it says, “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,”

We are the aroma of Christ to God!

Elsewhere in the New Testament it speaks of Christ's sacrifice on the cross being a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. In the Old Testament it speaks of the animal sacrifices on the altar as a pleasing aroma to God where He forgives His people.

And we are the aroma of Christ to God!

Imagine this: how do you smell to God?

Those smells coming out of that fire hall kitchen were so good I literally opened the door and waved the smell out into the voting area just so everyone could experience it.

The Thanksgiving spread you have (or will have, depending on when you read this) will undoubtedly be amazing and it will smell equally amazing.

But again, how do you smell to God?

Whining, complaining, argumentative, gossiping, and the like does not smell good to Him.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (and I'll add obedience to His Word) smell good to Him. True belief in Jesus on the cross and His resurrection smell good to Him.

So again, how do you smell to God?

Maybe today you need to put on some deodorant scented in love and joy and gratitude. Maybe you do smell good to God – keep it up!

But regardless of where you are today, my encouragement to you is to seek Him, get to know Him, love Him, and serve Him. Bring that good smelling aroma to everyone you meet because in 2 Corinthians 2 it is actually speaking to an evangelistic mission.

Verse 14 says “...and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

Anyway, I was just thinking...

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!