What Do You Smell Like to God

 

 

Have you ever thought about what your life smells like to God? Jeff explores the surprising ways Scripture uses scent to describe our spiritual lives—from the fragrance of prayer and repentance to the aroma of love and sacrifice. Drawing from both the Old and the New Testament, Jeff unpacks how the way we live can become a pleasing offering to the Lord.

Shownotes

Scripture Verses

Numbers 15:1–10

The Lord said to Moses,
“Say to the people of Israel, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I give you, and you make an offering by fire to the Lord from the herd or from the flock, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing odor to the Lord, then he who brings his offering shall offer to the Lord a cereal offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a fourth of a hin of oil; and you shall offer with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, a fourth of a hin of wine for each lamb.
...And for a drink offering you shall offer half a hin of wine, as an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the Lord.*

Exodus 30:34–38

And the Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy; and you shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be to you most holy.
And the incense which you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves; it shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.”

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

1 Timothy 2:1–4

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.
This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Philippians 4:6

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

James 1:5–6

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Acts 3:19

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 2:14–16

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

Ephesians 5:1–2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Colossians 1:24

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.

John 15:13

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 12:1–2

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.