A friend of mine gave everyone in our Bible study a rose from her garden yesterday. Mine was a beautiful red one, Mr. Lincoln, I think she said, with a fragrance that promised to be amazing. One day later it is completely opened and the perfume is permeating my kitchen where it sits singularly in a blue and white vase. All I did was cut the end again and put it in fresh water and it has rewarded me with what must be the scent of heaven! (Of course, I am sure Ellen put in a lot more work!)
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
The roses in my garden are just starting to bloom. We have had a very rainy spring and all of the plants look healthier and more verdant than in years past, years where a drought had been lingering. They have been busily growing, taking in the nutrients from last year's bouts of fertilizing frenzy and drinking in the fresh rain water by the gallons. I am hoping that when they are in full bloom, my garden will be a garden of heavenly delights...
I read this somewhere this week. "You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." - Tom Wilson, from the "Ziggy" comic strip. I rejoice because of their scent...
Dear Lord, Let us be a sweet aroma of your everlasting love to those around us. Let us drink in Your Word so that we may come into full bloom and sweeten the air with Your truth.
Have a wonderful weekend!
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