Our Signature Scent

Isn't it amazing how scents can bring memories to the forefront of our brains? The smell of crayons, wood burning in the woodstove, homemade spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove...all transport me to places in my past and bring to mind people and places held dear to my heart!

There are celebrities who have fragrances named after them. Fans can identify with an actress or singer by dabbing on the scent bearing her name. I read that Ladies Home Journal Magazine published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect fragrance for them - the idea being that every woman should have a specific scent associated with her.

The idea of a signature scent is not new. God introduced it as part of worship. In the tabernacle, a certain scent was to be associated with the Lord. The people were forbidden to use this scent for anything but worship.

Then the LORD said to Moses,
"Take fragrant spices—gum resin,
onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense,
all in equal amounts,
and make a fragrant blend of incense,
the work of a perfumer.
It is to be salted and pure and sacred.
Grind some of it to powder and place it
in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting,
where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.
Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves;
consider it holy to the LORD.
- Exodus 30:34-37
Under the new covenant, instead of using incense to make people think of Him, God uses Christians as His "signature scent" to the world.

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

The fact that God identifies Himself with us in such a powerful way is a truly humbling thought. A life lived for God has a pleasing aroma.....what does your "signature scent" say about you? May you spend so much time soaking up the presence of the Lord that others can't help but recognize by your "aroma" that you've been in the presence of the King!

(thoughts inspired by my daily devotional - Our Daily Bread)