For Christmas my grandchildren gave me a spray bottle of Polo after-shave. Instead of using it for after-shave I have it on my desk and spritz myself. It’s nice to know I am not offensive, at least scent wise and it reminds me of my grandchildren. There are many other ways to be offensive, as we all know. Being that I have a propensity to want to express my opinion about things, I have had to work at listening instead of spouting. People don’t like braggarts. It is difficult to contain oneself and not brag about being a Christian. Christianity is very unique from all the other religions of the world. It is the only religion that offers salvation as a gift of God’s grace. All other religions have complex rules and regulations and acts of penitence to gain God’s favor. Christ’s message is we are God’s children and God loves to shower gifts of grace on His children.
There are some flavors of Christianity that have added acts of penance and many other do’s and do not’s. Once they have done so they cease to be Christians. They just don’t realize they become the same as pagans. Alas, the Bible is so plain and clear. Ephesians 2, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our prayer should be for us to be able to speak of this wonder without being offensive. We will be a sweet incense to God. “Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation an aroma redolent with life.” II Corinthians 2 in The Message
Written by Roger Bothwell on March 18, 2014
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org