I walked around the bend in the road on this beautiful golden autumn morning and glanced up at the lilac that had put out its sweet beautiful scent in the Spring. To my astonishment, there about 15 feet above me at the top of the bush, lilacs were in bloom.
Lavender flowers against the deep blue sky set in front of scarlet, golden maples. They were so out of place, I stopped and studied them. Why were they blooming now?
Every season has its scent. Spring is filled with sweet Honeysuckle, intense Lily of the Valley, and delightful Lilac. Here in the autumn, the earthy fragrances of golden, scarlet leaves decomposing on the ground entice us with a tweed patch of scents and smells to fascinate our olfactory senses. Each season is an olfactory and visual delight to those who stop and linger in God’s fabulous creation.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
2 Corinthians 2:4
We, too, send a fragrant scent out to those around us and to our Heavenly Father. From the sweet smell of our prayers being held in a bowl on the golden altar in front of the throne, to daily triumphantly walking in love and obedience as we, the captives in Christ send out the fragrance of the knowledge of the Messiah.
You are: chosen, royal, holy, God’s special possession.
Proclaim: declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Rather than being captives to the world system, focus your gaze on the one who is our example and proudly wear the perfume of Obedience.
Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel.
(Rev 8:3-4, Berean Study Bible)
..and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
(Ephesians 5:2 Berean Study Bible)
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
(2 Corinthians 2:14, Berean Study Bible)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9, Berean Study Bible)