Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Two weeks ago I challenged you to exude the scent of God by extending grace to those who have hurt or wronged you with their words or actions. Last week Julie had us examine how well we receive and give grace. This week I would like for you to examine and ask yourself, “Have I hurt or wronged someone? Have my words, actions, or thoughts been judgemental? Have I helped spread rumors about someone?”

On my recent trips I have had the opportunitto see the world below from an airplane. The vantage point is so different and awe-inspiring. Just as today’s picture illustrates, often when we look at situations from a distance, we are able to gain new perspectives.

Today I encourage you to step back and look from a distance. I encourage you to truly examine yourself. Be honest with yourself and with God. Ask God to reveal any failings to you and open your heart and mind to the truth. As I shared two weeks ago, as long as you and I have breath in our bodies, we will sin and fall short. However, as Christians we can be redeemed. Join me this week as I share with you ways to deal with our own shortcomings. If you are honest with yourself, this week of self-examination may be eye opening and difficult, but know that God is with us on this journey and if we allow, He will guide us to a deeper understanding and faith. 

Let us pray as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 NIV — Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV — “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Click here to watch today’s See You Saturday video to learn how being planted with deep roots allows us to withstand the rain and winds of the storms of life.

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.

If you have been reading the blog all this week you know that each day I featured the same scripture. Each day I shared part of the message that I shared at church last Sunday. I have thought a lot about the quote from Scott Hoezee in which he said, “Getting graced by God is like getting dipped into a vat of perfume: the residue of the fragrance should waft off of you from then on.”

My prayer is that as we examined ourselves, we received a fresh dip into the vat of God’s grace over the last week. May “the residue of the fragrance of God’s grace waft off of us.” May our hearts be molded more and more like Christ each day and when others criticize us, unfairly judge us, attack us or spread rumors about us, may we respond like Christ and extend the grace of God. May each of us have a God scent.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for a fresh dip in the vat of Your grace. May I have a holy residue of Your fragrance and may I be known as being God scent. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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.

How can you and I learn to allow God to defend us and in turn extend grace to those who have been unkind to us?

First, we can set aside a daily prayer and devotion time. When we spend time talking with Christ, sharing the highs and lows of life we are able to let go of our sorrows. During this time we are able to gain wisdom and guidance from God to help us deal with difficult people and situations. When our hearts and minds are full of Christ we are more likely to have the grace of God wafting off of us.

Next, we can sustain a sweet scent of God by starting our day with gratitude. Spend some time each morning or evening listing at least 5 blessings. When we are intentional with looking for not only the big, but also the small gifts from God, we begin to adopt an attitude of gratitude which empowers us to share God’s grace with others. In Psalm 86:12, David declares, “I will praise you with all my heart, O Lord my God; I will proclaim your greatness forever.”

Another way to exude the aroma of God’s grace is by practicing living in the moment. When we learn to be present in the “right now” and relish each moment, we strengthen our gratitude and learn to appreciate fully the grace God extended to us when His only Son died on the cross for our sins. As long as we have breath in our earthly bodies, we are sinners. Every day you and I show our humanness and fail, but every day God extends grace and forgiveness to us. Let’s learn to relish each moment we are given and realize that each moment is an opportunity to waft the scent of God. As Psalm 118:24 states, and as our pastor often reminds us, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Today, let’s be aware of the scent that we have wafting off of us. Let’s be intentional in spreading God’s grace, especially to those who have hurt us, so we may share the sweet scent of God.

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for the sweet scent of Your grace. As I spend time in prayer, devotion, and gratitude may I collect Your sweet scent and spread it to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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.

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.

In my studies on today’s scripture, I read a commentary written by Scott Hoezee in which he wrote, “Getting graced by God is like getting dipped into a vat of perfume: the residue of the fragrance should waft off of you from then on.”

What an intriguing thought. What a beautiful thought. We have been graced by God. We have been dipped into a vat of holy perfume and as a result the residue of the fragrance of His grace should waft off you and me. What does God’s scent of grace smell like? It is the sweet smell of love, forgiveness, and non-judgemental acceptance of all! God loves you. God loves me. God loves everyone and He wants us to do the same. 

When others hurt us with their words or actions, when others wrong or mistreat us, when others judge or spread rumors about us, or when others act un-Christlike towards us, we should exude the scent of God’s grace. We should extend grace to everyone, especially those who have mistreated us. 

Spend some time thinking about those who have hurt you. Pray for those people by name. Ask God to give you guidance and strength to extend grace. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your everlasting love and grace. Open my eyes to my response to others who have treated me unfairly. Help me to extend Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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.

Naturally, when we are mistreated by others, we want to defend ourselves or our loved ones. We want to retaliate. But, how should we respond as Christians? 

Just 4 weeks ago we celebrated Palm Sunday. From there we walked through Holy week with Jesus as we were humbled by the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and saddened by His death on the cross on Good Friday. But then we rejoiced and celebrated on Easter Sunday. 

Today’s scripture reminds us that Jesus walked through Holy week for you and me. Jesus suffered for you and me. Jesus endured the nails in his hands and feet for my sins and your sins. Jesus was sinless and innocent, yet when He had insults hurled at Him and when He suffered, He did not retaliate. Instead He trusted God and as a result He set the ultimate example of grace for us. 

Grace—free, unmerited favor of God. 

We do not deserve it and we cannot earn it, yet God extends grace to us every day. Spend some time today in prayer about your response to others who have wronged you. Focus on the grace God extended to us at the cross and the grace He extends to us each day. How can you be an instrument of His grace today in your response to others who have treated you unfairly?

Let’s pray. Dear God, Thank You for Your everlasting love and grace. Open my eyes to my response to others who have treated me unfairly. Teach me to be more like Christ in my actions and reactions. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.