Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: How does your life smell to God?
Thank you for spending a little time today with our devotion, and I have this thought on my heart, "A Sweet Smell." My text is Philippians 4:18, where we see, "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." (KJV)
Have you ever lived in an area that was well populated with skunks? Skunks can be more friendly than other nocturnal creatures, but their smell truly ruins their "friendly" reputation! Now, please let me approach this thought in another way. How do we smell? Before thinking that I'm getting a bit too personal, it is so important for the Christian to know that not all of our actions smell good to God. Please notice from our text that the actions and conduct of the church family in Philippi and also Epaphroditus was "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."
Before our Savior, the Lord Jesus, came to this Earth and died in our place on Calvary's cross, animal sacrifices and offerings were given in anticipation of His coming, once for all sacrifice, that our Savior made for us when He died in our place on the cross. Included in those offerings was sweet-smelling incense.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the believer no longer offered animal sacrifices and incense, but instead, we offer and present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God as Romans 12:1 declares, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (KJV) The Christian today is to offer their body and life as a "present" to God as a living sacrifice, and when that is done with a right heart and spirit, that Christian actually becomes a sweet-smelling savor to God.
In the setting of our text, the apostle Paul was in a prison cell, probably in the Mamertine Prison in Rome. He was imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the church in Philippi took up a collection for him as a demonstration of their love and appreciation for him. After receiving this love gift, Paul penned these words, "I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."
These Christian believers were giving an offering of themselves, a living sacrifice, and it had a sweet smell before God. How does our life smell to God? Please know that the way we live and treat others is being noticed by the God of Heaven. Because our Lord and Savior offered Himself, the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, may we determine that the conduct of our life will be a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice unto God.
Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.