The Smell Test

Today's Verse:

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 

To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? ~2 Corinthians 2:15-16 

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Does it pass the smell test? This is a phrase that is used to determine if something or someone passes the test of integrity and trustworthiness. It is an informal means of determining the credibility, authenticity, or ethicalness of something. Paul uses the term “savor” which means an odor or smell. 

We see a purpose. 

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” When we received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we were placed on the winning side. We do not fight for victory, but we fight in victory. God always causes us to triumph. This means, in good times and in hard times, we are victors in Christ. Joseph told his brothers, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Paul said, “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” However, God uses everything in our lives for the purpose of helping other people. The word "savor" means an odor or a smell. We are to make manifest or testify through our lives the savor of His knowledge in every place. In other words, what do people smell from our testimony? What kind of smell is emanating from our lives? 

We see a performance. 

“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish....” Our position in Christ makes us a sweet savor, or a sweet odor. A sweet-smelling odor is a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Paul said, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2). Just as the sacrificial death of Christ was a sweet smell to God, our life must be pleasing to God and others. We are a sweet savor to the saved and unsaved. A sweet-smelling odor is like Mary’s ointment that filled the house as she poured it out on Jesus. It should not overpower, but it should bring happiness and joy. To the unsaved, it should attract them to Jesus. Nothing is more repugnant than something that has a foul smell. We must be careful not to leave a bad smell from a bad testimony. 

We see a priority. 

“To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” We are either leading people to Christ or away from Christ. People either want what Jesus is doing in us, or they are repelled by our hypocrisy and carnal actions. A life that is a good savor to God and man encourages an unsaved person to come to Christ as his Savior. This kind of life is also an inspiration for other Christians to be bold in the faith, to allow God’s grace to abound, to exercise great faith, and to have a joy that is present at all seasons. Paul had gone through times of rejoicing and times of difficulty, but in all of this, his testimony was a sweet savor. I think of when he was on the island of Malta and a viper latched onto his hand, the people thought he was a criminal deserving of judgment, but this resulted in a consecrated and consistent testimony. His testimony led to the salvations of Publius’ father and many of the island people. 

Do you pass the smell test? Is the savor of your life sweet and inviting? 

Have a sweet-smelling God Morning! 

 Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 32-34

#2Corinthians #Influence #Savor #Testimony