Smell is one of the most potent of our five senses. It is strongly tied to memory and emotion. Maybe that’s why a “smelly phrase” appears so often in God’s requirements for the sacrifices the Israelites would offer Him:
An offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the Lord….
As a New Testament follower of Christ, instead of bulls or sheep or goats or birds, I have something more valuable to sacrifice to God: myself.
When I offer myself to God, it’s a powerful aroma that is pleasing to the Lord. Check this out:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ…. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)
Offer your entire self to God and you’ll smell really good to Him.
WARNING: In order for a sacrifice to release its full fragrance it has to go through the fire. It’s especially true in the tough times that you can release the best aroma of Christ. So don’t run away from the challenging times—stay in them and release your God-pleasing aroma.
You are the pleasing aroma, so go smell good today!
Craig T. Owens 
April 16, 2010 at 5:33 pm
It is true. We all know people whose presence seems to fill the room. I’m not talking about loud talkers, or the clowns who can always make us laugh. I’m talking about people who change the atmosphere in a very positive way, when they enter a room. People whose conversations are uplifting or challenging — whatever the case may be. They seems to always leave you fuller than before they came. I want to be that kind of person. Giving off the aroma of God everywhere I go.
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April 16, 2010 at 11:26 pm
i like that it really hits home with me .
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April 18, 2010 at 2:38 pm
This is especially dear to me because I don’t have a sense of smell but I imagine what things smell like and picture my praises to God going up like a sweet aroma to Him. I read recently in Our Daily Bread about “Signature Scent”. There are perfumes named after persons. Ladies Home Journal published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect scent for them– the idea was that to be memorable every woman should have a specific scent they were associated with. ODB said this idea was not new. In the OT God made it part of worship. In the NT God uses us as His “signature scent” to the world. The question was asked: “What do people think about God as a result of being around me?”
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April 18, 2010 at 4:18 pm
This is beautiful, Karen. I love the thought of each of us being God’s “signature scent.” Wow!
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April 20, 2010 at 1:31 pm
This was so powerful, just to know that I’m a sweet smelling fragrent unto God, when I open my mouth an give him praise he knows its me,when my life show forth is glory because I choose to walk in is way, He knows its me by the sweet aroma that goes up to Him. God is awesome…
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April 20, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Yes, God is AWESOME!
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April 21, 2010 at 5:40 am
Thank you! This has been inspiring to me.
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