Celebrate Jesus
 

Celebrate Jesus
By Gail Rodgers

Christmas Day

The smell of Christmas baking permeated every corner of the house. Walking in from outside, the fragrance was welcoming. The smell alone created an appetite and an expectation.

Did you know that you permeate the circle you live in with a fragrance? Oh, it’s not your perfume or your aftershave. No, the Bible tells us …

“…God …through us, spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

As you go through this special season you are taking the fragrance of Christ with you into your circle.

The celebration of the birth of Jesus is sometimes pushed to the background amid the food and gifts and activities of the season. Yet you bring the fragrance of Him with you as you interact with those around you. You can bring acceptance and love, gentleness and kindness. You can bring an unselfish spirit and embracing warmth. You can bring the very things His birth brought to you!

Somewhere in your circle there may be one for whom this season is difficult. Seek that person out and give away some of the love Jesus gave you. Create a hunger for Him in those around you by sharing the fragrance of Jesus.

Simply ask for His Holy Spirit to fill you today with power from Him so you can share that fragrance of His loving care. Share His gentle love today and, as the old saying goes, “if necessary, use words.”

Father God,
I want to say a special “Thank you” today for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank you that knowing Him can change a life! Help me today to have a heart full of the abundance of all Jesus is — love and gentleness, acceptance and caring. Help me to be filled with these things, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the fragrance of Christ will permeate wherever You have me today! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Questions: While you are celebrating today, is there someone that you know that you could give the gift of love to? How? How are you spreading Christ’s fragrance around, especially today?