left behind

Ps 23:6; Exodus 33:21-23;34:6-7; 2Cor. 2:14-16
    While some perfumes can be overwhelming to the point of unpleasant, there are those which leave behind a pleasing aroma.
     This happens on occasion at the Bible Institute where I teach. Young ladies breeze past me on their way to classes and I get a whiff of fragrance...usually pleasing.
       This brought to mind the idea of this devotional. Ps. 23:6 is an emphatic statement made by David, declaring that 'surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me..." While goodness and mercy are acts of kindness, they, like a pleasing aroma do follow after us.
      In the Exodus passage, Moses witnessed God's glory described by the attributes of mercy, graciousness, longsuffering, etc. As these personifications passed by, the irrestistable response from Moses was to worship.
       The 2Corinthians passage reminds us that we are to be a sweet savour of Christ as we associate with those around us.
        All this leads to the questions, "What are we leaving behind as we pass others? Are we a test to their patience, or a testimony of God's grace? Do we leave a pleasing aroma after having spent time with others? What do they remember about our visit?"
        Let's strive to be a sweet savour of Christ to all!

      T.O. Chisholm and C. Harold Lowden collaborated to give us the hymn, "Living For Jesus". What better way to leave behind a pleasing aroma?