Recently, I heard food described as cozy food. A cozy sweater or a cozy room, but cozy food? But the more I thought about it, what a perfect term for food! How have ever walked into a house and the air was filled with wafts of home-baked bread, or the spicy scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves issuing from a pumpkin pie, or roast beef with vegetables bubbling in a crockpot? The aromas stirring the air invite you to indulge in the cozy food ready to be enjoyed! Foods and spices are blended to create mouthwatering flavors represented in the aromas you take in on entering the room.

Aroma is used not only to describe food, but Paul uses the word to describe the body of Christ in 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

Back in Bible times, whenever a Roman general would have victory in battle, the people would celebrate the victory with a parade. The priests would carry burning incense and with the flowers thrown along the path, fragrance filled the air. Beautiful scents wafted through the city, indicating and celebrating victory in battle. The pleasing, sweet aroma of victory filling the city reached the emperor, who sat on his throne. Such sweet fragrance would please him due to the meaning behind it. The Romans were victorious!

In much the same way, those who are in Christ carry the sweet aroma of victory throughout the world. Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection brought victory over sin and death. Those who seek forgiveness from sin and accept His gift of mercy and grace share in that victory. We are His, and the Holy Spirit dwells within each believer’s heart. As we walk through life, we are commissioned by God to share the gospel message. Believers are to share Christ and live in a manner pleasing to God so our lives are a sacrificial, fragrant offering to Him.

As we spread this sweet aroma of the gospel, knowledge of Him stirs the unsaved to enjoy the fruits of the gospel message. For some, the fragrance of the gospel brings life, to others, death. While the aroma of the gospel message is carried through the world by God’s children, the fragrance ascends to God’s throne, and He is pleased. God is pleased when His message is proclaimed because His purpose has been fulfilled.

Christmas brings cozy sweaters, cozy rooms, and yes, cozy foods. Fragrances fill the air with sweet and pleasing aromas. The sweetest fragrance filled the air at the birth of Christ. Let the aroma of Christ flow through you as you celebrate His birth with those around you.

In His Love,

Susan