Ephesians 5:2
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
Philippians 4:18
“But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”
Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Have you ever walked outside on a spring evening and smelled someone grilling out? Oh the smell! It makes me want to go introduce myself and join the party. It is “a sweet aroma” to our nose, and we are drawn to it.
“A sweet aroma” is used thirty-seven times in Exodus, Numbers, and Leviticus when God gives Moses the Sacrificial Law. When the Israelites offered up their sacrifices according to God’s design, it was a sweet aroma to Him. There were daily offerings, Sabbath offerings, monthly offerings, and yearly offerings, which include Passover, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, etc. I am sure it seemed they were always making an offering up to God for something! But, I believe this was one of His ways of helping them stay focused on Him. Every time they gathered the animals and grain for an offering, it was an opportunity to focus on God.
Ephesians 5:2 gives us, as New Testament Christians, a picture what our sweet aroma to God—being imitators of God, walking in love as Christ did, and being willing to give ourselves up as an offering. Romans 12:1 tells us to present ourselves to God as a spiritual sacrifice to God. In Philippians 4:18, Paul told the church at Philippi they had given, him a sweet aroma which was an acceptable sacrifice that was pleasing to the Lord when they supplied him with the items he needed for daily life.
It is my desire for my life to be a sweet aroma to my heavenly Father. As I live each day, I will strive to imitate Christ, walk in love, give of myself to others, present myself to God, and serve others along my journey.