My Elder Brother's Shirt

This is not my elder brother's shirt. :)

Since I am the youngest of the three, I have had to purchase very little clothes. After reaching college, most of my brother's shirts started fitting me right. Hence, I've been happily receiving these used shirts for years now. I love these shirts because they are new-like in condition(because it's taken good care of), they're brands that'd burn a hole in my wallet if I purchased them, and they smell good (at least for a few days once I start using them). I'd smell different in the first few days of wearing these shirts.

The scent of our clothes has something to do with our distinct body odors. I recently read that each person's body odor is so distinct that the scent trail left behind can be traced by scent-detection canines by looking past all the other odors that come their way. It's in the same way that newborns can recognize their mothers in the early days after birth. Their mother's smell is familiar to them. Our smell is an identity mark in some situations like these.

In the Old Testament, we see that the aroma of a sacrifice was really important to God. On various occasions, we see how the sacrifice was a pleasing aroma to God. (Genesis 8:21, Lev 2:9). Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:15, "Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God."(NLT). I read that again. Again. What? It doesn't just say I am a fragrance to God. It doesn't just say I don't smell bad anymore or that I smell better than before. It says that people like us, who once had the unbearable and filthy stench of sin, now smell like Jesus. Man, that verse gave me an ocean to swim in my quiet time. I no longer smell of sin or of myself, but like Christ. You and I are a "Christ-like" fragrance. How can God not be pleased with this fragrance?

Everything I do - big or small in our eyes, 'tis worship in God's eyes.

This truth can really change a lot of things about our lives. Upon reading this, I couldn't help but think of the value of everything I do - whether big or small in my eyes, 'tis worship in God's eyes. It's not because of the greatness of our actions or obedience, but because our identity has changed, and we already smell like Christ. It's greater than the smell of our sins or unfaithfulness. His perfection is ours now. Just imagine the worth, perfection, and fullness of the offering Christ became on the Cross. God was pleased with that most perfect sacrifice of Christ. Hence, our every act of service now shares the same qualities. Our services to God are now accepted in the same way as if it was done by Christ to God.

Our services to God are now accepted in the same way as if it was done by Christ to God.

It's a privilege that we can do everything as if it's done unto the Lord(Col 3:23). We are given the privilege to approach God as priests, wearing the robe of Christ's righteousness, with a Christ-like smell, offering our services, our very lives as worship, with the confidence that God will be pleased. We don't have to try to weigh the worth of our services to God, but simply trust in the worth of His action and what it accomplished for us. This helps us to serve Him wholeheartedly, thankfully and faithfully.

Isn't it great that we can all find our loving Elder brother in Him(Heb 2:11), and He has clothed us with His robe, and now we are a fragrance like Him to God. All praise and glory to the lamb who was slain!