Smyrna 3

Do you know that you have a smell about you that is very pleasing to God?

Whether we carry the same smell as the anointing oil in the tabernacle or not I don’t know but I would venture to think that we probably do. The sacred anointing oil used in the temple was made with frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon.

Today you are His temple and anointed by God with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God’s sacred anointing upon your life. Maybe (I don’t know, I’m just thinking) frankincense represents the Father, myrrh represents the Lord Jesus and cinnamon represents you. Or they represent your spirit, your soul, and your body. Who knows, but whatever aroma is produced within you through identifying with the Lord through suffering, it produces a sweet and pleasing smell which the Father delights in.

Now, I know none of us like suffering, but the reality is that we all suffer persecution for our faith, we go through unjust suffering often brought on by the tests and trials we face in this world. But take heart, your suffering is only temporal and will not endure longer than your life on earth. 😅

Sadly, in many religious circles, people think you have done something wrong or you have committed some sort of sin, because you are suffering in some area of your life. However, this is far from the truth. Granted there are times you will suffer as the result of a sin, but this is called deserved or just suffering, not unjust or undeserved suffering. Peter said that if you suffer unjustly because of doing what is right in God’s sight this is commendable before God. (1 Pet 2:19-20)

So how do we deal with suffering in a way that we become a valuable, sweet, and pleasing perfume to the Lord?

Overcoming suffering begins with knowing Jesus as the One who is the Beginning and the End of everything, including your suffering and your faith. This does not mean He is the author of your suffering but that He is with you from the beginning to the end of your life and everything you have to endure. He is with you and will never leave you nor forsake you, no matter what form of suffering you are going through as you look to please Him. He knows you are going to be wounded and He knows the end product that your wounds will produce for Him. This is greatly pleasing and very valuable to the Lord.

Second you need to know and understand the death and resurrection of the Lord. He is the One who died but came back to life again. Even though you experience the effects of sin and death in your heart, your mind, your emotions and in your body to where you think it’s the end and you are going to die, take heart because you have a resurrection to look forward to. Your life is eternal and if you keep eternity in mind while you are suffering you will be able to praise and rejoice in the Lord always. It is the praise and rejoicing of your heart and your lips that forms the sweet perfume which has such great eternal value.

As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So, we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out for us. We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! So, consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls, so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures. After all, you have not yet reached the point of sweating blood in your opposition to sin. (Heb 12:1-4)

The greatest honour you can show the Lord in this life is to love Him and serve Him joyfully while you are suffering. He was able to endure the cross because of the joy He had in His heart knowing that you would become His. When you keep your heart and mind fixed on the eternal life and wonderful rewards He has planned for you, you too will find this joy unspeakable and full of glory, because you know you are His forever.

He stands ready and is waiting to receive you into glory and to crown you with the victors crown, knowing that death will never be able to defeat you again.

Rejoice always! 😁😂

Yvonne

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