Potpourri Christians

I…beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 

with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, 

bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep 

the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

 (Ephesians 4:1-3)

The scent of roses hung in the room as I entered; a fragrant reminder of the previous day’s project -- a batch of potpourri made from dried rose petals, scented granules, and fragrant oil.  In a few weeks, when the aroma had permeated the mixture, I would transfer it to a decorative jar, and give it to my daughter who furnished the petals from a bouquet she’d received.  It would make a fragrant addition to her office.

I had sealed the container into which I’d placed the mixture but the fragrance still lingered.  Sniffing deeply, I crossed the room, picked up my Bible and devotional book, and settled down for some quality time with the Lord.  A smile played across my face as I read the title of that day’s selection: “The Scent of Flowers”.

How timely, I thought as I opened my Bible to the accompanying scripture passage: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17. I read the verses aloud, my mind snapping alert as I came to the 15th verse:

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who 

are being saved and among those who are perishing 

(vs.15)

To God I am the fragrance of Christ? I queried. That means to God I smell like Christ.  But do I? Do I really remind God of His most adored Son, or have I allowed offensive odors of unChristlike attitudes and behavior to pollute His fragrance in my life?  These were sobering questions.

Rereading the verse, my attention focused on the last phrase:

among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing

Obviously it meant that God intends for me to carry the essence of Christ to everyone I encounter – both those who have accepted Him as their personal Savior, and those who have not yet done so.

My conscience was pricked for I recognized my failure to always do so.  Sometimes perhaps, with certain people in certain circumstances.  But how often are my conversations laced with the foul odors of dissatisfaction, contention and criticism.  What lingering effect do I leave on the senses of others?

With the pleasing aroma of roses scenting the air around me, I thought of the foul odors in our world today.  Only Christ’s love and forgiveness can replace them with sweetness.  During His physical absence from Earth, human hands, feet and voices, under the direction and empowerment of His Spirit, have been charged with this assignment:

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority 

has been given to Me in Heaven and on Earth.  

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things 

that I have commanded you; and lo, 

I am with you always, even to the end of the age"

(Matthew 28:18-20

Dried flowers alone do not make a fragrant potpourri.  They must be infused with a scenting agent, and then set apart to absorb the aroma.  Only then are they capable of affecting their surroundings.  Christ is the scenting agent in the lives of believers; His essence infusing us to the degree we allow it to do so.  The more time that passes, and the closer our proximity, the more prominent will be His aroma in our lives.

With these thoughts in mind, I thanked God for reminding me once again of the necessity to come aside and spend quality time with Him on a daily basis.  Our time together ended that morning with a heartfelt plea:  Lord, in a world filled with garbage cans, help me become a potpourri.

I’m like the dried out petals, Lord, in the potpourri I make,
and I need Your fragrant touch as I do things for Your sake.
Help me smell like You, Lord, is what I say and do,
that I may help some hurting soul to find sweet peace in You.