Fragrant

 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:2 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.5.2.ESV

It's not enough to talk the talk in the Christian life. We need to walk the walk, and it's a walk of love. We love because Christ first loved us.

Out of love for us, Christ walked to the cross and gave Himself up for us. Because He gave Himself up for us, we should give ourselves up for Him and for one another. Those who lose their lives for Christ and the gospel will find eternal life.

I'm not a Greek expert, so I assume the fragrant offering and sacrifice to God is Jesus Himself. God accepted Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. That is the grounds of our hope.

I think another application, amazingly, is that we ourselves can become fragrant offerings and sacrifices to God. We can't add anything to Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. Yet we can offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God, holy and pleasing to Him.

'Dear Lord, how we praise You for loving us and giving Yourself to us. May we love You in return and give ourselves to You, for Your honour and praise we pray, amen'

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