Consider the Smell

Maybe because I hear it too often, I don't care to hear these words: "smells like something's burning."  It wasn't Noah's cooking but he certainly burned something pleasing to God! "Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground on account of man." (Genesis 8:20-21).  Although safe, life on the ark couldn't have been ideal - cooped up with two of every kind of animal as well as all his family for 40+ days and nights; what a hot and humid ride that must have been!  Think about the haunting sounds of drowning men, women, and children outside the ark as the waters overtook the earth. Then the first thing Noah does outside the ark, after a big breath of fresh air, is worship.  On my best day, it seems I struggle to grasp the measure of God's goodness and lovingkindness.  Noah's commitment to see beyond himself and look gratefully to The Creator is a lesson to us all.  Before, during and after extraordinary circumstances, Noah praised God. May our lives also be a sweet smelling savor of Christ to God and to everyone around us. Yes, let us consider our smell! ​