The Coffee Can

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

“Close your eyes, Eric, and tell me what this smells like,” said Aria. Her brother did as directed, and Aria held a stack of papers under his nose.

Eric sniffed cautiously. “Coffee,” he said, making a face. He opened his eyes and stared. “Wow! I thought you had a cup of coffee in your hand! How did those papers end up smelling just like coffee?”

“I’ve been keeping them in this old coffee can,” Aria said, holding up a big aluminum can.

“Too bad,” said her brother. “Now those papers stink!”

Aria looked at him in surprise. “You don’t like the smell of coffee?”

“Of course not!” said Eric. “Do you?”

“I don’t like the taste—Dad let me try his once, and it was really gross—but I love the smell!” Aria held the papers to her nose and breathed in deeply.

“Yuck!” said Eric. “Keep them away from me.”

Dad, who was on his computer in the corner of the room, looked up. “It can be really hard to get rid of strong smells like coffee,” he said. “At least Aria likes that smell, so she can continue to use the coffee can to store things.”

Eric scrunched up his nose. “I just don’t get how someone could like that smell.”

“That reminds me of a passage in the Bible,” said Dad. “In the book of First Corinthians, Paul says that the lives of those who have been saved by Jesus are like a sweet fragrance that rises up to God. But to those who don’t know Jesus, it’s not a fragrance—it’s a stench. Because they aren’t willing to admit they’re sinners, the truth of Jesus dying for their sins is like a bad smell instead of a good one.”

Aria nodded. “One of my friends used to laugh at me when I talked about Jesus, but then she decided to trust in Him too!”

“Yes,” said Dad. “When God works in someone’s heart, He can open them to the fragrance of His love. That’s why we need to keep sharing His love with others and praying for them—so they can smell the sweet aroma of Jesus in our lives.” • Holly F. Cepeda

How About You?

Did you know that Christians are the fragrance of Jesus? He fills us with His love so others will be drawn to the sweet aroma of His salvation. But to some, the reality of sin is a truth they don’t want to believe, and they turn away like they would a bad stench. But God can change any heart. Keep showing His love to those who don’t know Him, and pray He would open their hearts to His sweet aroma.

Today’s Key Verse:
2 Corinthians 2:15 We are to God the fragrance of Christ. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Christians are the fragrance of Jesus