Not a Pretty Smell

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

To be honest with you, I didn't let my light shine before others this past Monday...I got really upset with a co-worker. I had received a call from the field--they needed to get a hold of a person that apparently never answered phone calls. The caller was wondering if my co-worker was on vacation, because she tried for a couple of days; didn't receive a call back, and now couldn't even leave a voice-message because the voice-mail was full.

Self-righteously, I stomped over to the person's desk to tell him that he really needed to take this phone call. Normally my tone of voice is soft, but not that morning. I didn't stop there—I complained to another co-worker about the work ethics of this particular person...I really don't know what got into me that morning. Okay, so I am over-worked, but that does not give me the right to be such a snob.

“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.” ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (ESV emphasis mine)

I was not a fragrance; but a stench! Yuck! I totally lost my focus that morning--I took my eyes off of Him, acted self-righteous. I could have been kinder to my co-worker, but still got the same result—for him to take the phone call.

No matter if I am over-worked, or I am not in a good mood, I need to let my light shine. I need Him to take over in situations that I can not handle well on my own...

Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am sorry that I sometimes don't handle stress situations well. Lord, help me to focus on You when I am in situations like that. Help my to let my light shine and be a beautiful smell to the ones around me—among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. I want to live my life to bring glory to you. In the precious name of Jesus I pray – Amen.