My wife and I had just moved into our new home. We were enjoying our new home, but something happened a few weeks in. We were experiencing a stench in the house. We begin to search for the source of the smell. We were looking everywhere and could not find it. We finally discovered a bag of potatoes that had been placed in the back of a cabinet while moving in. We got them removed and cleaned everything up and the smell was gone.
We can have this happen in our lives. We come to Jesus and become a “brand new house.” Christ is faithful as a Son over his house. We are his house (Hebrews 3:6 WEB). Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 WEB).
We are supposed to be new, clean and holy. But just like in our new house sometimes there may be something hidden that we’re unaware of. It may be in a moment that it arises. Someone says something that stirs something up within us. Then it comes to the top, that stench of anger or pride. We snap back at them or maybe we don’t. Maybe we just harbor ill feelings towards them within our hearts that becomes the stench of bitterness. Maybe it’s not the others making the negative comments though. Maybe it’s us. If we are always negative or have a bad attitude. These things stink. Ever heard the phrase “your attitude stinks?” Yes these things stink, but not just to us. These things also stink to God. It says in Amos 5:21-24 (NIV)
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. These people had upset God so much that even their religious exercises were a stench to Him.
We must be attentive to what lies within us. Have you ever approached someone’s house that you could smell the stench coming out when they opened the door? Do people smell the stench in our hearts coming out when we open our mouths? If so we need to clean some things out.
We must not let these things stay within us. We have to be quick to search out anything that would stink in God’s nose. We must pray as it says in Psalm 139:23-24 KJV 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
This way instead of a stench God will smell a sweet smell, a pleasant aroma when we pray.
Psalm 141:2 (BBE) Let my prayer be ordered before you like a sweet smell; and let the lifting up of my hands be like the evening offering.
As it says in Galatians 5:14 NHEB For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You are to love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we walk in love we continue to be a well pleasing smell to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 KJV 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.