“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.( Ps. 51:1). “Forgive as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Eph.4:32).
Heavenly Father, these are a few of my favorite aromas: Sour dough bread just before it exits the over, a stand of spruce trees after a rain, and fine dark chocolate ganache. Thank you for each. But you seem to enjoy the aroma of genuine humility—for it’s a theme that runs throughout your Word.
Whenever we offer you and each other a broken and contrite heart—not only do you not despise it, but you also delight in it (Ps. 51:17). It’s the aroma of grace, the fragrance of the Gospel, the cologne of heaven. Few things are as sweet-smelling as a genuine apology offered and extravagant forgiveness extended.
Maybe that’s where we can hear you singing and rejoicing over us the loudest (Zeph.3:17)—when we sinner-saints meet before Jesus’ cross, empty tomb, and occupied throne—needing, extending, and receiving the riches of your grace from each other.
Father, your mercies are new every morning because we need them every day—certainly for ourselves, but also to give to each other. We only live with imperfect people. We only know yet-to-be-glorified believers—just like ourselves. We do and will hurt each other until heaven. But we don’t have to live allergic to humility and be miserly with your grace. That smells worse than a middle-school boys locker room. Have mercy on us, on me, indeed.
Each of us has relationships that desperately needs the life-giving aroma of your reconciling love. Help us, free us to offer the fragrant treasure of the Gospel through these fragile jars of clay we inhabit. We will only live to regret being stingy with grace. We will never regret being generous with your love. So Very Amen.
