This is a bit of an add on to my last InfiniTEA War post. Minty Licorice Delight has a very pleasant and comforting scent, but Andrew turned his nose up at it. Nevertheless, there was something familiar about it that I just couldn’t put my finger on. Finally, it came to me—Cinnamon! Of course! Andrew doesn’t like the fragrance of cinnamon.
This sparked a spiritual pondering. People say that they can sense or smell death. Life can be smelled too. Those who are spiritually alive in Christ have the scent of life. However, the world is accustomed to the stench of spiritual death, so the believers’ fragrance can turn up the noses of those who don’t know Jesus. It’s a bit of an odd way to look at it, but I believe that it’s the truth. The Bible tells me so.
“Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 2:15
Incense Bearers ❤
We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ.—If we believe this Epistle to have been written from Philippi, it is interesting to note the recurrence of the same imagery of a “sweet savour” in the Epistle to that Church (Philippians 4:18). Here the mind of the writer turns to the sterner, sadder side of the Roman triumph. Some who appeared in that triumph were on their way to deliverance, some on their way to perish (this is the exact rendering of the words translated saved and lost), and this also has its analogue in the triumph of Christ. He does not shrink from that thought. In his belief in the righteousness and mercy of Christ, he is content to leave the souls of all men to His judgment. He will not the less do his work as incense-bearer, and let the “sweet savour” of the knowledge of God be wafted through the words which it has been given him to utter. All things are for His glory, for His righteousness will be seen to have been working through all.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(Photo credit goes to Pixabay.com user TheoCrazzolora.)
Pippi's Poetry 
The sense of smell is often so overlooked. It can so remind us of how special life can be. Take time to smell a rose. It reminds us of the beauty of life and creation.
It was the same here. K hated cinnamon yet I loved it.
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Very true. This Summer I did take time to smell the roses. I don’t always do that. But our neigbor planted a rose bush between our two yards. I’d stop to smell the roses on the way out for my walk. Roses in the summer heat smell quite sweet. It truly is a lovely treat. 😊
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It’s true that different scents are perceived differently by different people. My daughter strongly dislikes cinnamon, whereas I like it very much. If physically-perceived scents are differently perceived, it is certainly plausible that spiritual “scents” would be, also.
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Thanks, Ruth. Yes, it’s really interesting how scents are perceived so differently!
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Glad you are taking time to smell the roses! May we all have the sweet loving aroma of Christ!
You never commented on if you liked the tea besides the aroma- it sounds like a strange mix cinnamon, mint and licorice.
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Oh, I did in the full post. Surprisingly it was a good mix, but the licorice was way too strong. It just kept getting stronger. Probably should have taken the tea bag out, but I also had a reaction to the licorice. Felt a bit dizzy. 😮
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Oh my, investigative journalism is tricky business. 😊 I always enjoy your posts! 🌺
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I am glad you enjoy them. 😊
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I have found that any licorice tea I have tried is too strong for some reason. I am used to leaving the bag in until I finish, but doing that with licorice can be a mistake. I love cinnamon, especially Ceylon or Vietnamese cinnamon–the real deal. Most “cinnamon” in the stores is cassia, not a true cinnamon.
As to smelling roses, with a sinus issue, floral scents can have an adverse reaction for me, and I tend not to like them very well. I love the flowers themselves, though.
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Yes, I will be avoiding licorice in tea now. You live you learn. You can’t learn with out that tasting and seeing. And even taking in those fragrances… except the ones that cause adverse reactions. 😊 It’s definitely good to avoid those.
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I love cinnamon. We can be a fragrance that attracts people to Jesus in how we live our lives and how we treat people.
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Yes, we sure can. We can be the opposite, too, but I prefer to live in such a way that attracts people to Him. That’s my hearts desire. 😊
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Well I have been drinking Chai, so I guess Andrew would not be a fan of that either. I pray we live our lives in a way that provides a sweet fragrance to the Lord! Very interesting post! You gave me more to ponder!
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Thanks, Bridget. I so want to say that our fragrance as Christians isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. 😀 But thankfully, with help, we will be a sweet smelling aroma to our Lord. He is faithful to complete the work He has started.
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Our sense of smell adds to our taste of food, brings us enjoyment from nature, and can serve as a warning for potential disasters. Our Creator gives us a body equipped with the best of the very best.
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Hmmm… yes, very well thought out and designed. 😊 Thanks Richard!
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