Do you smell that?

Jonah 1:3 So he paid the appointed fare and went down into the ship to go with them to Tarshish from being in the presence of the Lord [as His servant and minister].

One question comes to mind: What price are you paying to NOT be surrendered to the Lord’s Presence in serving others? It’s a shame that ministry has been perverted, and twisted to the degree that is hard to recognize Jesus in the ministers who claim to represent Him. Where so-called ministers of the Lord become the served rather than the servers. I find it humorous that over the years some have felt the “call” to the ministry while having no desire to serve Jesus or the Body of Christ – they simply want a platform for their “gifts” or talents. Others seek to be in the “ministry” simply because it’s easy money and they don’t have to work like the rest of the world. But I digress.

Another way of restating the previous question is to ask, What price are you willing to pay to NOT die for Jesus, or others? What’s the least you can give to Jesus and others and have the benefits of eternal life? I just spent some time journaling seeking to process some of the things that have transpired in my life since April. From the untimely death of my sister till now I listed at least seven different challenges that have assailed, and buffeted me. When I listed them one question rose to the surface: What purpose do these difficulties serve and why have I been spiritually assaulted? While pondering the answer to this question I recalled that several others have been going through similar challenges. Painful challenges. Following this realization the more pressing question became, What is on the horizon spiritually that the Lord is preparing us for its inevitability? Jonah’s fleeing from the Presence, and service to the Lord led to his life sinking into the belly of a fish. (Imagine how bad he stunk following the fish spitting him out on dry land).

Only once in my walk with the Lord have I smelled His fragrance. I have known others within our church who have smelled the beauty of His visitation. Which raises the greatest question. The question we should all be asking: What difference is there between Jesus, you and me, and Jonah’s life? Are we getting closer to smelling like Jesus or Jonah? Jesus’ embrace of His Father’s Presence, and serving others, has caused His life and Presence to smell sweet. On the other hand, Jonah’s avoidance of God’s Presence, and his unwillingness to serve God and others caused his life to stink. The moral of the story? Self-centeredness stinks. Dying for Jesus, and to yourself, causes the fragrance of Jesus to be released bringing life to those around you. Isn’t it interesting how we send flowers to those who are grieving or sad? The flowers have to surrender their lives to bring sunshine and sweet, smelling fragrances to those who are enshrouded in darkness, and the stench of hopelessness, discouragement, and despair. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 states: But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,¹⁵ For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:¹⁶ To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]