IS THE COMMUNITY MADE FRAGRANT BY YOUR PRESENCE?
By David Paulson
Have you not occasionally, in walking through the fields, spied an unknown flower whose appearance was perhaps so unattractive and commonplace that you would have passed it by with scarcely any notice, had it not been for a sweet fragrance, which fairly captivated you? Paul thanked the Lord that he makes “manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Cor. 2:14. The word “savor” here is the same word in the original that is translated “odor” in John 12:3, where Mary broke the box of ointment, and the house was filled with the odor. Although the alabaster box was hidden from their eyes, its fragrance appealed to them in a most gratifying way. In the same manner, the Lord proposes to make his gospel fragrant in the community where we reside, on account of our living there. Just as the odor of some foods will fairly make the mouth water for the food itself, so every famishing soul who comes within the sphere of our influence will have begotten in his soul a longing for heaven.