1 Peter 2:19-25 NIV — For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. “By his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Last Friday night we had a Spring Fling dance at school. I stood in the hallway greeting students as they arrived. I stood in the same place I stand each morning as they arrived at school so it was fun to witness different sights and attitudes. Being one of the first to see them, I had the pleasure of seeing their excitement and nervousness as they walked toward the gym. While they were all decked out in fancy clothes, many of them wore perfumes or colognes. As I stood there admiring all the sights and smells of our students, it occurred to me that we do the same with the “scent” of God. 

Think about it. When we are going to church, a celebration, or an important function, we get all cleaned up. We put on our best clothes, our best smells, and our best attitude. We greet others with kind words and it’s easy to exude the scent of God to others. In contrast, what about the days that nothing goes right or the days when you have one difficult situation after another? How about when co-workers criticize you or when someone spreads a rumor about you? What about when you learn someone who you thought was your Christian friend has expressed a judgemental comment to others about you? How do you respond? Do you plan your revenge? Do you brainstorm ways to retaliate? What scent do you exude? Times like these, difficult times, times of injustice and mistreatment … these are the times that we must follow the example of Christ and allow God to defend us. We must rely on God. In Psalm 62:5-7 David declares, “I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter.”

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your everlasting love, grace and protection. Give me strength and courage to lay my sorrows before You and allow You to defend me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.