Cheap Imitations?

"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 a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

The more we respect and love someone the more we aspire to become like them. My maternal grandmother was a complete card with her wicked humor and her loving character. Her boistrous laugh and sweet smelling perfume always lingered beyond my visit with her. I would remember funny things she said or did while we were there and the perfume on my clothes once we left her was a warm and loving reminder of the hugs she freely gave. Holdie indeed left her fragrant offering of love on each of her many grandchildren. Now departed, through past time spent with her I still enjoy her presence of spirit. Although, I do not feel Holdie’s presence physically I feel her presence spiritually and intellectually through my memories. When we do not feel God’s presence we still take our place in line knowing we are dearly loved children. Christ felt a separation from God as He hung on the cross. This loneliness and feeling of forsakenness was the prelude to the grand resurrection. Many times feelings of disconnect with God mark a time in a Christian’s life when God is working a powerful resurrection-to-be. As Christ hung on the cross his anguish was not the physical pain he was experiencing but the spiritual separateness and feelings of abandonment from His Father that He had to experience first. We are to be imitators of Christ in every way. While hanging on our crosses we may experience this same feeling of abandonment. Christ trusted and believed that even when He felt God had forsaken Him that He knew this separation must have been necessary in the grand scheme of things.

The fragrance of Christ also lingers on us and around us the more we are in His presence. We are bathed in His fragrant offerings of love, hope, joy, compassion, etc... and because of His relationship with our Father God accepts the pleasing sacrifice lifted by Christ on our behalf.

We all give off a fragrance based on who we are wrapping ourselves around. Certainly different times in my life I have given off more of an odor than a pleasing aroma based on the way in which I treated people. The only way to share the fragrance of Christ is to wrap your arms around Him and never let go!