June 15, 2011

"Simply Fragrant"

It’s not “simply”, it is Jesus Only

“Simply Fragrant,” the new theme for AWM for 2011-2012, conjures up pictures of femininity, an awakening of our senses of touch (feeling), smell (fragrances), as well as a rush of romantic emotion. Yes, that is the “Fragrant” part of the theme but what about the “Simply” part?

I’m glad it is “Simply” because that implies to me that this is not a difficult thing. “Simply Fragrant” can be achieved quite easily. NOT! In fact, it’s not simple to carry the fragrance of Christ. "Simply" is defined as:
        -with nothing else involved
        -uncomplicated
        -straightforward
        -absolutely
        -utterly
        -simply astonishing and
        -without embellishment
My relationship with Christ is not these things automatically. To put it “simply” I can’t do this on my own. It must be Christ and me – together.

When I was 14 years old I attended a main line church in my community. I never missed a Sunday, (I have the pin and bars to prove itJ) yet I had no idea there was something more until our youth choir went to a Billy Graham Crusade at Madison Square Garden and I found Jesus as my personal Savior. That night I received “the gift of God” – a relationship with His Son. My life would never be the same again. Now it would be “Christ in me”. That’s the simple part. Hooray, I’ve arrived.

No, that’s not the total “simply fragrant” story. It’s a story that we add a chapter to daily, in fact maybe moment by moment. It’s the daily life changing communion with Him that makes us more like Him,  then and only then will we begin to be the “sweet smell of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are lost.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

Just think of the myriad of things in our lives that prevent the sweet fragrance of Jesus from coming through-- overwhelming pressure at work, ambition, hobbies, sports, meaningless activity, busyness or addictions. Or we could be resentful, bitter or hurting badly. When these things are in our lives, the life giving sweet aroma of victory in Jesus cannot flow freely from our being. There is no room for Him. How do you exude the fragrance of Christ without Him first and foremost in every area of your life? Believe me, God is showing me daily what is most important – nothing but Jesus and Him only.

God has been really zeroing in on this in my life as I read His Word. My prayer is that people from the grocery store, the bank, the doctor, the office, my home, wherever, will only see Jesus and not me! As we step into this awesome new theme, let’s remember it doesn’t mean to be “simply” fragrant by adding a sweet perfume (an outward source), but it means we need to get serious about who we are in Christ and make sure it is His fragrance that is oozing from our being (an inward source). It’s not “simply”, it is Jesus Only!

Blessings to you and may our actions – each word, each touch, each helping hand and listening ear keep spreading everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

By Edna Mapstone, Interim Director, AWM National Executive Team