The Sweet Aroma & The Soothing Aroma

Today’s Word of Encouragement from Wayne:

"Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place"

2 Corinthians 2: 14

There is a sweet aroma produced within us as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3: 18). Knowing our Lord is everything. Knowing "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1: 27) is what allows you to know, for sure, the truth of "the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." Because Jesus Christ dwells in you, therefore He is with you "in every place." How are we to access this wonderful sweet aroma? By drawing near to God, in our inner room, to worship Him. Worshiping our Lord at our altar produces a soothing aroma to Him, which He gladly “manifests through us” as a "sweet aroma."

Genesis 8:21 records the first of many, many Old Testament passages regarding God smelling a soothing aroma as His people came before Him. The Bible tells us, after the great flood had receded enough, that “Noah built an altar to the Lord” (Genesis 8: 20) first thing, and he offered sacrifices to God. “The Lord smelled the soothing aroma” (Genesis 8: 21). I encourage you to build and maintain an altar to the Lord, in your interior temple, as a priest unto God, and offer "a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13: 15).

Ministering to the Lord brings us into the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him, even as we offer God praises, which are a “soothing aroma” to our Lord. How blessed we are to know that our praise not only blesses our God but also releases for us that sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in His presence and in everyplace. Bless the Lord! Hallelujah!