Fragrance

We live for the praise of God's glory.  Perhaps the clearest instruction on how and when to praise God is found throughout the Psalms.  Psalm 34:1 states, "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Psalm 7:17 declares an undeniable reason, "I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most High."  Psalm 9:1 explains intensity, "I will praise you, O Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works."  Likewise Psalm 70:4 encourages joy in believers, "Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, 'Let God be magnified!'"  Finally, Psalm 150 includes everyone, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!"

The Word of God makes it plain that we are continually and whole-heartedly to be involved in praising God.  However, we have many daily responsibilities which must be done so it is virtually impossible to just be declaring His praise every moment of the day.  What can we do?  The answer is in a more complete understanding of worship and praise which enables us to meet this requirement. 

Praise and worship extend far beyond our singing and speaking praise in a worship service.  It is more than the common idea of acknowledging all He has done for us and how great it is to know Him and experience His love. 

Worship is a posture of the heart that is releasing fragrance to God.  This posture of our heart is shown by our words, by the thoughts in our head, and by our choice of actions.  2 Corinthians 2:14 reinforces this truth, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."  Just like from the sacrifices in the Old Testament, there is a sweet fragrance that exudes toward God from knowing Him, and expressing this knowledge in every pleasing thought, emotion, word, or action that comes from our heart.

God is pleased when we love Him enough to obey His Word, when we choose to be Spirit led rather than follow the lusts of the flesh.  Romans points out that those who set their mind on the flesh cannot please God.  We are to take every thought captive. God knows what we are thinking in our heart of hearts.  Every time we lay down our fleshy thoughts of lust, envy, complaining, bitterness, or rebellion and choose rather to let the Word of God dwell in us richly, it effuses a pleasing fragrance to God. Galatians 5 lists the works of the flesh and of the spirit to help us discern whether our thoughts are edifying or destructive. and what needs to be in our mind and heart.  The Father is so pleased when we put on the new man rather than follow our old fallen-nature ways. 

If God would show us His latest 24-hour video of us, with our secret thoughts, our inner feelings, and little choices exposed, would we discover a pleasing fragrance or a foul odor.  It would be challenging to ask God to show us, as Psalm 139 suggests, "search me and know my heart, if there be any wicked way in me."  What does our fragrance smell like?

God has made us a new creation and has removed the stony heart with a tender heart of grace and truth.  By the Spirit of God we can nurture the divine qualities of the new nature and walk worthy of our calling.  Choosing to let all we think and do intentionally honor God is a way to worship and praise God continually and be a sweet fragrance before God.  Therefore, it becomes true, "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ."  2 Corinthians 2:15