1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
– Ephesians 5:1-2, NRSV
A fragrant offering. It’s a phrase that comes up over and over in the scriptures, usually with regards to burnt sacrifices offered up to God. A fragrant offering.
God’s people don’t offer up burnt sacrifices anymore. Fragrant offerings look (and smell!) different in our day.
What’s more… fragrant offerings might look (and smell!) different in the midst of COVID-19. For example: as the pandemic unfolded, the parent company of high-end fragrance brands like Dior and Givenchy announced that they would temporarily halt production of their luxury perfumes. They would instead focus on the production of hand sanitizer, and offer it — free of charge! — to hospitals and health care workers. If that’s not the very definition of “fragrant offering,” friends, I don’t know what is.
May that fragrant offering inspire other fragrant offerings… including our own.
As you ponder the kind of selfless, useful, fragrant offering you can make to God, remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
Want to know more?
- Learn about our church and its ministries: https://wesleychurch.com/
- Make a gift to support our mission: https://wesleychurch.com/giving-2/
- View our recent messages: https://wesleychurch.com/sermon-message-on-video/
- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
