Growing up everyone’s concern was that they didn’t want to be the “smelly kid” in class. Maybe the smelly kid syndrome was due to skipping a shower that day; wearing the same pair of gym socks five days in a row; or starting to wear Teen Spirit a little later than the rest of the girls in class. Whatever the cause of the smell, no wants to be the known as the smelly person in the room or do they?

“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 among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”-2 Corinthians 2:14-15

Have you ever thought of that metaphor – that we are the aroma of Christ that is a savoring sweet smell? That when we walk into a room, Christ who is in us exudes from us and fills the nostrils of everyone around us like a strong smelling perfume. Why make the comparison of Christ in us to a smell? Well, have you ever had someone walk up to you doused in perfume and when you take it in, you kind of have to take a moment to focus your senses back to normal? Well it’s kind of like that. It says in the verse that God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him through us. The fragrance of Christ in us should be so strong that it dissipates into the air and has a strong presence to those who come in contact with it. Do people come in contact with you, sense Christ, and then understand more about God through the presence (or fragrance) of your relationship with Him?

It also says that to God we are an aroma of Christ among the world…so guess what that means? For once, it’s good to be the smelly kid. We are the fragrance of Christ.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved, children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” –Ephesians 5:1-2

So ask yourself how smelly are you?