Challenge Central: a CBC devotional
By: John Kerr
One day on my early morning walk, I was almost overwhelmed by the scent coming from a stand of lilac trees. The aroma was so pungent that it nearly took my breath away. It was like something from a fabric softener commercial! I am sure it was so strong that it would have masked the smell of an angry skunk!
As I continued on my way, I marvelled at this natural incense, and my thoughts turned to God. Incense is viewed as a picture of prayer. As the saints of old prayed, their prayers arose to heaven like a heavenly incense.
In the book of Exodus, Moses outlines how incense was to be prepared and how it was to be used (Ex. 30:34-38). It was to be offered in the morning and the evening. “Every morning, when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations (Ex. 30:7,8).”
In Psalm 141:2, David says, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.”
This fragrance came out of a life lived to God. Prayer became the aroma that lifted heavenward. It was a picture of that complete life, daily being offered to God.
There is so much that could be said about prayer. Volumes from every age of church history have been written about it. But the one thing common to all is that we need to pray. “Oh no! Not another sermon about prayer!” I hear being said, but it is a necessity for a balanced Christian life. Just to think that your prayers arise to God as a pungent aroma from incense. Like the lilac trees and their magnificent perfume, your prayers are pleasing to God.
As the early morning breeze carries the sweet perfume of the lilac trees, I have noticed that it is starting to fade as the lilac blossoms mature and will eventually fall from the branches. Let us endeavour to daily offer a sacrifice of incense that reflects our relationship to our God.
“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.”
