Sweet Aroma

"You shall make an altar to burn incense on... And you shall put it before the veil that is before the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat ... where I will meet with you. Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning ... [and] at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations." (Exodus 30:6-8 NKJV)

The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8 NKJV)

"He shall bring it [offering] to Aaron's sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD." (Leviticus 2:2 NKJV)

The astonishing power of smell can prove difficult to resist. A fragrance from the past brings a flood of memories in an instant of time. The aroma of food stimulates hunger. The perfume of one's beloved begs one to draw close.

Even the Lord is moved by the sweet aroma in the incense of our prayers. Prayer does not move God outside His will. But prayer has the power to move His will and His hand. Not any prayer, not all prayer, but the prayers of His saints—His royal priesthood of His believers—as a perpetual (abiding) offering made by fire (passion, fully defined).

One of the Lord's most amazing promises in all of Scripture is this: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7 NKJV)

Oh Lord, how awesome a privilege it is to boldly come before your throne, our admission purchased with Your Son's blood. Beg us to draw close, to abide in You, to welcome Your Word's abiding in us. Fill us Your Spirit, that we may offer prayers with a sweet aroma You cannot resist.

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Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy