Would You Smell This?
Tell me you’re not
one of those people who says to another family member, “Hey, would you smell
this?” Unless we’re talking fresh flowers, new cologne or hot-out-of-the-oven
bread, that’s rarely a question that causes a family member to think, “Oh boy,
this is going to be great!”
Why is it that
there are those who see chunks in the milk or they come across questionable
socks in between the clean and dirty pile of laundry and, being unwilling to
sniff themselves, pawn the smelling off on someone else? What they’re saying is “I don’t want to smell
this. It might be disgusting. Here, you do it.”
Isn’t the sense of
smell the only one of the five senses that we regularly use as a weapon?
Chemical warfare! There should be a standing universal rule of etiquette
(approved by the Geneva Convention) that says “You should never ask anyone to
smell something you’re not willing to smell yourself.” Sort of a “smell unto
others as you would have them smell unto you,” a semi-golden rule.
On the spiritual
side, anytime we encourage people to live a life of righteousness for Christ
when we’re not living it ourselves, we’re definitely sniffing up the wrong
tree, as it were. We need to make it our own personal universal rule to follow
Jesus out of love for Him. It’s the right thing to do. And as a bonus, it’s a
testimony that prompts those around us in right living. Psalm 106:2 asks the question, “Who can proclaim the mighty acts of
the LORD or fully declare His praise?” (NIV).
Then the psalmist answers the question in the next verse: “Blessed are they who maintain justice, who
constantly do what is right.”
Not to be too
“nosy” here, but have you asked yourself recently if you’re making a positive
difference in this world by the way you’re living? Is your testimony of
righteousness influencing and inspiring those around you to live well, too?
Making a personal
rule of consistently doing what is right is always a good idea. It’s a good
idea that helps spread the charge to right living beyond ourselves as we
proclaim His mighty acts and fully declare His praise. And that’s like a sweet
smelling offering to the Lord. Isn’t that a blessing of the sweetest spiritual
olfactory kind?
Of course, back on
the physical olfactory side, I’m thinking it’s also a good idea to make it
a personal rule that if you see chunks in the milk, don’t even bother sniffing.
Just have your coffee black.
Rhonda Rhea is a radio personality
with a recurring role on Focus on the Family’s Weekend Magazine radio
program and a conference speaker for events all over the country. She is the
wife of
