Stinketh!

Lima, Peru, is located right on the Pacific Ocean, and in the port of Lima there are many factories and processing plants which produce fish meal.

Fish meal smells terrible.

And that's an understatement.

For a few days every month in Lima, the horrible smell of fish meal permeates the entire city. I'm not sure why it happens, but it makes the whole city smell just awful.

What sort of aroma does your church or ministry give off to those around you?

Is it "the aroma of Christ" or "the fragrance of life" as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NIV)?

Is the reputation and are the works of your church or ministry sweet-smelling?

Or is the reputation and are the works of your church or ministry more like the decayed corpse of Lazarus, which his sister, Martha, described in John 11:39 (KJV) as something that "stinketh!"

Does your church or ministry "stinketh"?

Almost no one is going to answer "yes" to that question, but take a good look around you. Is your church or ministry making a difference in your corner of the world? Are you serving others, loving others, & leading others to the feet of Christ? Are you bearing "much fruit", as Jesus commands in John 15?

Or does your fruit "stinketh"?

Too many ministries do too little & reach too few. Instead they focus on pettiness, criticism, & competition. These types of ministries "stinketh."

Just like Lima does a few days each month.

Take stock of your church or ministry. Weigh your fruit & examine it closely.

Make sure it has "the aroma of Christ" & "the fragrance of life" around it.

Make sure it does not "stinketh."