You can tell by the smell

To be honest, I don't think I'd use a food processor very often, if I had one. But there are times - like last weekend - where an industry garlic press would come in handy. It took me nearly three hours to convert a kilo of fresh garlic into four little jars of the ready-to-use minced garlic that will be my supply during the winter months!

And, as for the smell in the house…… I was glad that I wasn't planning to entertain guests on Saturday evening, because you could tell on entering my kitchen that I had spent considerable time that day in the company of garlic!
I'm often struck by the comment in Acts 4: 13 where it says that people listened to Peter and John, and they recognised that these men had been with Jesus. I wonder if the same thing could be said about my life. When people watch my behaviour or listen to my conversation, is something of the fragrance of Jesus left with them afterwards? Can they "tell by the smell" that I've spent time in the company of Jesus?

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, our prayers, our offerings, our obedience to God, our kindness to others are all compared to incense or to fragrant offerings that are pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5: 1-2 tells us that if we follow God's example and walk in the way of love, we will be ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας  - a fragrant aroma  that brings joy to God's heart, just like the life and sacrifice of Jesus were pleasing to the Father.

So how's your fragrance today? Can people "tell by the smell" that you've been spending time in God's presence?