Devotion 5: Smell Test

January 31, 2025 5:00 AM
Lesson Four | Devotion 5: Smell Test  
Pastor Caleb Combs 

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2  

Have you ever done the smell test? I mean, have you ever taken a whiff of something on behalf of a friend? Jeff Foxworthy calls it a “courtesy smell” when you confirm, “Yes, it does smell like rotten eggs.” I have a 15-year-old son whom I have had to teach about body odor. Yes, I do ask myself, “How can someone smell like that?” Some of us have better senses of smell than others, but let us not dwell on smelling bad; let us talk about something smelling good. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of something smelling good? For me, it is fresh chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven. It is so good! 

Well, in Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul uses the phrase “fragrant offering” when referring to the sacrifice Jesus made. Now, what does that mean? Paul is addressing the church in Ephesus and referencing the Old Testament law of sacrifice. They would burn a sacrifice that smelled good to God. They would also burn incense in sacred places so that the aroma would reach the nostrils of God and please Him. 

Paul begins the passage by telling us to be imitators of God, to walk in love as Christ loved and gave. Jesus gave up His life, as the Bible tells us, as a payment for many. John 15:13 tells us, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus gave up His life for you and me, and it smelled good to God. This concept might be somewhat mind-boggling, but what I want to share with you is the concept of giving of oneself. Romans 12:1 echoes this concept by saying, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” 

We consistently see this concept of giving throughout Scripture. Some of you might have tuned out when I mentioned giving, but stick with me for a couple more minutes. God has called us, as His followers, to imitate Jesus in sacrificial giving. It includes giving our time, treasures, and talents. This “smells good” or pleases the Father. John chapter 3 says God loved us and gave, and 1 John says we love because He first loved us. Now, this may seem like a stretch, but I believe we give because He first gave to us. Being faithful in giving to a ministry or serving in a ministry follows the biblical example Jesus set for us. I encourage you to seek God and ask Him through prayer, “What am I holding back, and what should I be giving?” You will find out that God blesses the faithful giver in amazing ways far beyond earthly possessions. Malachi chapter 3 says He will pour out blessings in your life as we are faithful in giving, just as Jesus was.  

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