GRINDING WITH LOVE!!

God wants to make His children great fragrance in His holy presence all the time. He wants to enjoy the aroma that we produce in life. But for us to produce the aroma, we need to go through the process of grinding which is very painful. Through grinding, our Christ-likeness will come out with its fragrance. Grinding will change our original shape, color and strength. We become smooth and soft when we are put in the mill to grind. We are easily manageable when our rough structure is removed through grinding. But if only we submit ourselves for grinding by God will we produce the fragrance. It is unthinkable that we dwell in His presence and do not produce a sweet savor. If we remain unchanged in our natural man, the aroma will not be feasible. This is why we go through the hands of our Lord who is the Great Perfumer. When we suffer in this life, we are going through the process of being made perfumes for the Lord. Our souls will have to be crushed in all its natural instincts as we are crucified with Christ. Sandalwood is a tree of fragrance, but unless it is cut and peeled, the aroma cannot be enjoyed. Of course, only a sandalwood tree which is willing to be cut and experience pain will have the privilege of spreading its aroma. But when the Great Perfumer of Heaven uses His axe of love, we will be compassionately cut into new shapes for Him and will produce great aroma for His glory. So no matter how painful every grinding or cutting is, it leads to the glory of the Lord through the godliness that will be exhibited in our expressions of behavior and attitude. If we resist His hand on us, we will remain without aroma.

Dear reader, are you going through some uniquely painful experiences in life lately? Has your life become a grinding mill of the Great Perfumer? Are you being axed to transform your natural shape into aromatic structures? First of all, it is the privilege and right of the Great Perfumer because He owns you. Secondly, He cuts and grinds those lives which are surrendered solely to Him. In order for this to happen, you need to take your hands off your souls and must allow Him free hand. Remember, He is your owner as He created and recreated you. But He will not take your life to do what is pleasing to Him unless you allow Him absolute freedom. If He doesn’t reshape and remold you, it will not be possible for you to produce the aroma and fragrance that is expected of you. We must also remember that the fragrance which comes out of the lives of the suffering saints is not our natural aroma, but what the Great Perfumer has instilled in us through His Spirit. When He invests His aroma and glory in us, He also has the right to spread it around through us. We cannot deny Him what is rightfully His. If you are going through pain, agony, misery, intimidation, rejection, despising, depravity and similar challenges of great magnitude, you must realize that it is the loving hand of your Lord who is at work in you. When He grinds you, it is always an act of love, compassion and grace and not rough handling. He knows that your life on earth is fragile and so He will not put more pressure on you than what you can handle. So when you go through grinding, comfort yourself that the Lord is doing it lovingly and graciously. It then is your turn to thank Him for His pleasure in glorifying His name through the fragrance of patience and maturity in your life. Let your life be a sweet savoring sacrifice of praise today and aroma of a great testimony to His grace.

2 Corinthians 2:14 – But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.