SMELLING SWEET

We identify many things by their odor. Walking in Grandma's backdoor as an apple pie is baking can be a pleasant experience. At least if Grandma is a good cook, and all things go well, it can be. My Grandma was the best cinnamon roll maker (in the whole world we always said). I took up making cinnamon rolls for my children and now grandchildren. And as long as I don't have overflow dripping in the bottom of the oven things smell pretty good. 

This morning while I was outside I couldn't help but smell the blossoms on our lovely crab apple tree. Such a sweet smell, and this time of year those smells are everywhere. The petals from the apple, pear, peach, plum, and all of the blossoming trees blow from the trees like a flower girl at a grand wedding scattering petals on the vivid green grass.

There is a popular meme that reminds us, "In a world where you can be anything--be kind." 

It isn't always easy to be kind. When others are mean and nasty—that can be difficult. When we are tired and cranky—that can be hard. Some ideas that may help us remember to be kind would be:

• We all have off days. This might have been their's
• Life is too short to let others dump garbage in your life
• There are some people that are jerks, that doesn't mean we have to repay in kind
• Prayer is a good avenue; use it often
• A forgiving spirit permeates like perfumed air, or salt brine

Even when it is difficult. We are to be the salt and the light, and an odor of a sweet smell. 

"and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell." (Ephesians 5:2 ASV)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

The World Loves Its Own

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18)

In this world of social messaging it is easy to let people know how you feel about--well, about anything and everything. Just a simple comment on some simple (or not so simple) post on Facebook can send the vitriol flying like rabid foam from a sick animal. Especially if you give a "Godly or Christian" answer. Do we on occasion long for the days gone by when people/society respected the teachings of Jesus?    

 "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19)

I am reminded of the children's book by C. S. Lewis, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.Of course it is a children's allegory of Jesus, who is represented in the Lion. At one point Aslan (the lion) allows himself to be slain by the evil/darkness of the witch. She and her minions believe they have overcome good. They slay the lion, and celebrate their victory. They are free to rule the world, to have their way and have nothing, and no one in their way. 

They dance, they party, free, free, they rejoice. And the good people of Narnia weep. 

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." 
(John 15:20)

So many thoughts press in my mind here. Sunday the world of Christendom celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. {Easter is a miss-translation of the original word "Passover"  in the King James version. Easter comes from a pagan holiday.}  

"And when he had apprehended him (Peter), he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people."(Acts 12:4 KJV)

Resurrection: in the classic C.S. Lewis story, the rulers of darkness didn't understand that the lion (Aslan) that was slain for the redemption of the people of Narnia could not be kept in the grave. And in this life neither can Jesus be kept prisoner by the powers of darkness in the grave.

The powers of darkness celebrated that miserable Friday as Jesus hung on the cross, thinking they had won the victory, but they were wrong. Christians need to stop celebrating Easter, and celebrate the Resurrection. We need to realize it isn't about the bunny, it's about the lamb...and the lion. The Lion of Judah, that overcame the powers of darkness. That crushed the head of Satan.

"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:14-15 KJV)

Compromise. The world wants us to live as if Jesus Lost the battle. But wait, life during the Roman Empire was very wicked, yet believers persevered. Many times in the last 2,000 years wickedness has prevailed, but still believers persevered. They fought through the wickedness with truth and righteousness, and with all prayer and supplication. So what can we do? Here are some thoughts, and scriptures that will hopefully encourage each of us:

• Thought—return to holiness and righteousness with fasting and prayer; turn from self-righteousness, to Christ's righteousness "For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)," (Ephesians 5:8-9 ASV)
• Start living as though we won the battle; "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" (Romans 12:12 KJV)
• "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" (Luke 18:1-5 KJV)
• Pray that our eyes, hearts, and minds will be open and discerning to the will of God. Try the spirits, for not all preach/teach the true Word, and second like to that, pray for our friends, neighbors, and the lost that their hearts and minds will be open to the Truth as well.
• "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:" (Colossians 4:2-3 KJV)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!