One of the homecare staples of most moms are air cleaning and freshening solutions. Be it essential oil diffusers, automated air fresheners, canned air fragrance, linen sprays, potpourri, scented sticks, gel-fragrances, or three-wick candles, moms invest on it to make the home smell lovely and fresh.
So imagine the best scent ever, wafting around your home 24/7, everywhere you go. Feels clean and relaxing right? Having said that there is a far better aroma that can linger around in our homes everyday and for always. The aroma of Christ.
In his letter to the early church, St. Paul the Apostle encouraged believers to spread the good news of salvation sincerely, so that they can help others get to know Jesus.
“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,” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
As followers of Jesus, we should endeavor as mothers to ensure that the fragrance of our Messiah’s sacrifice remains a long-lasting scent wafting through our homes. By doing this we can help our children live lives for Jesus, inherit eternal life, and grow in Chriist-likeness. We can carry this out by living a Christ-centered family life.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2
As a God-honouring family, we are to train our children into Christ-likeness. This begins in bringing them to church, and exposing them to God’s teachings, commands, and life story. In today’s world, children are bombarded with bad examples of how to live their lives, encouragement to live a life centered in idolatry, and other unbiblical truths. If we allow social media and technology to be the number one influence in our children’s lives then we are doing them a great disservice, and jeopardizing not just their future but even their after-life.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
As parents, we should be role models in living a godly-life. We are to make our homes not just nice and comfortable. We should prioritize instead to make it a place where our children will learn to honour God. If we aim for that then ultimately, our home will be a place of love, care, safety, peace, and joy that transcends inevitable life difficulties.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
And as we grow our faith, we are to pass on what we have learned to our children so that they too will love God as much as we do. We have to assure them that it is alright to counter today’s values of self love, materialism, and deception. We are to model to them that lives are meant to be lived for Christ and for others.
We should go against the flow of this generation’s values and instead promote the true worship of God, and love for others through sharing, forgiveness, honesty, kindness, self-control, and genuine concern. And as we ourselves start bearing the fruits of the spirit, our children will witness our transformation and will be encouraged to live these values too every day of their lives.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
In time, our children will grow up to be selfless people whose idea of success does not lie on the numbers in their bank account, but in how much love they have given others, and how much love they have received.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 and Deuteronomy 6:1-9 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: As a mom how do you fill your home with the good news about Christ, and love and guidance from the Lord?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, please give me the grace to make my home a place where children will be encouraged to live their lives for you. Give me the confidence to share the Gospel to them in both words and deeds. Please strengthen and guide me to become the mother you have planned me to be. Amen.
