Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)
There was a time when we lived in a part of the country where skunks could be seen roaming the backyard. I had never grown up seeing these animals because I grew up in a different part of the world where skunks were not present, so when I first saw a skunk, before knowing what it was, I assumed that it was a cat. However, one thing I always realized was that there was generally an unpleasant odor that accompanied this beautiful creature, so I figured that perhaps it wasn’t a cat at all. I quickly learned what it was and understood that it was in my best interest to stay away.
I dare say that our Heavenly Father has a way of teaching us valuable lessons from nature if we’re paying attention, and this example with the skunk is no different. He reminded me that He desires for us as His children to share His love and His beauty and leave a positive impact wherever we go so that others would desire more of Him because of an encounter with us. He wants to be vessels of love and honor in our homes to our family and to the greater community around us.
Are you leaving a stench behind wherever you go, or do you find that people gravitate towards you unexpectedly because of the sweet presence of the Spirit of the Living God dwelling on the inside of you? If you find that no one wants to be around you, it could very well be because the aroma you give off is not sweet and welcoming. Don’t despair! There is hope for you. Our loving Father wants to immerse us in the sweet aroma of His love so that we can be more like Him in every way and radiate not only His love but His light to the world around us.
Written by:
Shauna Menns
