The Aroma of Heaven

Matthew 11:29 “...I am gentle and lowly in heart”

 “Only as we drink down the kindness of the heart of Christ will we leave in our wake, everywhere we go, the aroma of heaven and die one day having startled the world with the glimpses of a divine kindness too great to be boxed in by what we deserve?”  

 I am reading a book by Dane Ortland titled Gentle and Lowly. It is about the heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers. I have just read the first chapter and it has grabbed me from the introduction and I find I cannot put it down to do my chores for the day. I kept re-reading these few words - the aroma of heaven - those four words absolutely jumped off the page at me. Have you thought of heaven having an aroma? Nope, I never have but it made sense as I read on.  

 What kind of aroma am I leaving behind in my daily life? Am I leaving behind, sweet kindness? Am I leaving behind burdens for others to clean up or pick up after me? Am I aware of the words coming out of my mouth? Am I being Christlike, gentle and lowly (humble)? Those four simple words hit me hard…the aroma of heaven. Am I leaving a stink behind me, or am I leaving a Christlike aroma?  

 Matthew 11:28 –30 is the heart of who Jesus is. He will give us rest not for the body but for our souls. He doesn’t look at us the same way we tend to look at each other, by our own sinful standards, our position in life, the way we dress or the things we own. Jesus looks at the heart, nothing more. Where is your heart today? Are you leaving an aroma that is sweet smelling, or does it have some stink to it? That left a deep impression on me and I am continuously working towards a better smelling aroma coming from my heart.

Fresh Wind, Fragrance of Heaven with Hillsong

Father, we are so blessed to have a perfect model through Your Son, Jesus, to teach us to live a full life not by what we have or who we are but to live a life in full abundance by having a Christlike heart. Thank You for Your love and the gentleness we have in Jesus.