The Fragrance Of Life
To smell nice, some process of brokenness must go so that a great fragrance can ooze out. We must smell nice to God before smelling nice to any Man.
Most times a lot of ladies are not marriageable because they are not broken. A lot of homes have been shattered because of the lack of brokenness.
Brokenness is a spiritual condition that attracts the attention of God. Brokenness always gives us more understanding of ourselves and Him.
THE FRAGRANCE OF LIFE EMERGES FROM THE BROKEN PLACES
Let us read a verse from 2 Corinthians 2:15, “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing”.
First of all, we are the fragrance of Christ. Primarily we have to be a fragrance to God, then to the believers, and then to unbelievers. Consider the perfumes that we buy.
When we buy a perfume, we always check its fragrance before we buy it. God too smells our lives, so it should be a fragrance to Him.
In Genesis 8:20, 21 we see how the offering that Noah offered was a soothing aroma to God. Our life must be a soothing aroma to God.
The Fragrance Of Life
Consider the making of perfume. How does a rose become a beautiful-smelling perfume? The rose undergoes many breaking and crushing processes to become a perfume.
Our life too must go through breaking and crushing processes to become a fragrance to God. Jesus is compared to the rose of Sharon. He also went through many breaking processes (Isaiah 53:5, 10)so that His life and death was a sweet smelling aroma to God.
In Ephesians 5:1,2 we read how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were offered up as fragrant aroma.
What is this real sacrifice? In Psalms 51:17 we read, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
God wants us to have that broken Spirit, and then only we can be a fragrance to God and to believers and unbelievers. The way of the cross is the way of brokenness. In the Old Testament and the New, Testament God has used many men after allowing them to go through situations to break them. Like how God used Moses, Jacob & Peter.
You need to break up your fallow grounds. Fallow ground is hard ground. If our heart is like a fallow ground, it is useless for farming.
God wants us to plow our fallow hearts by breaking our self-will, jealousy, selfishness, and our pride. It is the right time of repentance. It is the right time to break the fallow ground.
God is willing to shower His Holy Spirit on us so that we can change our fallow ground and be a fragrance to God.
The Fragrance Of A Broken Life
However, all that is worthy of admiration is the weight of wisdom and great spiritual strength with humility carried.
It takes some measures of brokenness to bless and be blessed. Myriads of Men or Women have most opportunities of promotion to higher heights in life and ministry due to pride and insubordination.
Many homes are shattered because their members have refused to be broken. Husbands refused to condescend and wives refused to submit. It’s a big pity! The Bible says in John 12:25 says “John 12:25 KJV
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
The problem is, many of us have not really died to ourselves. We have only fainted! And because of this, should the pin of old life be injected into our blood system, alas? We rise again and kick.
The alabaster box had to be broken for the fragrance to flow forth. Virtues in us as humans are the spices. The fragrance you should emit is not of outward but something from within you.
Humility is the greatest and very powerful. It is having brokenness as a character base.
Many are still treasuring the alabaster box, (beauty, position, power, fashion, business e.t.c) above the value of ointment (grace,truth,meekness e.t.c).
Brokenness is the way of blessings, the way of fragrance and the way of fruitfulness. Brokenness implies submission.
Submission entails the willingness to obey instructions even when it hurts. Give God the first place in your heart and home. Submission to God and his will carries with it great spiritual strength and a wealth of wisdom.
God can do little with self-willed, self conscious man or woman. Humility leads to submission and submission is strength.
Brokenness is the response of humility to the conviction of God. It is continuous because it has to reflect in our day-to-day decisions. It is painful, it is humiliating, it is costly but brokenness is the only way to get God to live in and work through us. It involves the yielding of rights and selfish interests.
When God brings his pressures to bear on us through conviction, we are free to make a choice. We can either stiffen our necks and refuse to repent or we bow our heads and say “Thy will be done oh lord.”
How is it with you, my brethren? Are you broken or stuck to yourself? I am pleading with you not to yield until you are sure that in contrition you have discarded your way, your will, your rights, and your own glory for Christ’s brokenness and humility. The Fragrance Of Life.
True humility is contentment. To take a higher place before Men you must first take a low place before God. Are you broken?
Work on your character!!! Please don’t hide under spirituality.
Character in the believer is a consistent manifestation of Jesus in his life.
Men and women of character will set a good example for others to follow, and their godly reputation will be evident to all (Titus 2:7-8).
The highest standard of character is set forth in Scripture and exemplified in Jesus Christ. Phil 2
Character is what defines you. It’s what people see in you. It’s what people will say about you after you pass away. Character is one of the most important things you have.
True character is shown in how you act in any situation. Actions do speak louder than words in many circumstances and you and I have to be on guard against the devil so that when adversity comes our way we can still exhibit the fruits of the spirit in word and deed.
How can we shine for Jesus if we are showing the world darkness through our actions? Are you making an effort daily to be a blessing to those around you or a stumbling block?
Prayer:
Ask God to show you the area where we need to be broken, where my heart is still hard, and where I don’t have a light on my evil habits. God is pleased with our broken sacrifices. Let us come to Him with humility and a broken heart as we participate at the Lord’s table.
