I love the scene when Bambi meets Flower. Bambi’s learning his first words, takes a deep whiff of a patch of spring flowers, and out pops the cutest, little…skunk?
“Flower!” Bambi blurts.
Thumper rolls around on the ground in hysterical laughter at Bambi’s mistake. “That’s not a flower, he’s a little…”
Flower interrupts bashfully, “That’s all right. He can call me a flower, if he wants to. I don’t mind.”
As if to settle this, Bambi responds, “Perty! Perty Flower!”
If you need an extra moment of Disney perfection in your life, take a look at the video for this scene here: Bambi Meets Flower
Did you know the Bible speaks a lot about how things smell?
Throughout both the Old and New Testament, we’re reminded of the aromas that God finds pleasing.
In the Old Testament, animals were often sacrificed in obedience to God. For example, when Noah and his family safely emerged from the ark, he built an altar and offered a sacrifice out of thanks to the Lord.
And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. Genesis 8:21
As we read the New Testament, Jesus becomes the perfect and final sacrifice on our behalf.
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2
Paul speaks further about our responsibility as followers of Christ, now that Jesus’ death has covered our sins, in his second letter to the Corinthians.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing… 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
So from the altar, to the cross, to each of us, now might be a good time to start thinking about our odor to God. As we continue Christ’s ministry on Earth, how do we smell? Is what we are doing pleasing to the Lord?
Be warned, as we walk in the love we are called to, there are plenty of those “perishing” types out there; the ones who will mock us at every opportunity.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
It is by this power that we don’t have to live in discouragement.
I encourage you to take a shower and shine for Jesus, bathe blissfully in His love, hose yourself off in His holiness, maybe apply some divine deodorant…whatever it takes to smell like Christ in someone’s life!