Daily Devotional for July 7, 2022
What’s That Smell?
Miguel was excited. Jake was coming over! The boys were friends from church and sat together for school lunches, but today was the first time Jake was coming over to his house.
When the doorbell rang, Miguel’s mom opened the door just before Miguel got there.
“What’s that smell?” asked Jake, wrinkling his nose.
“Well, hello to you too,” chuckled Miguel’s mom.
“It’s pork tacos,” said Miguel, edging in front of his mom. “The meat is kinda stinky while it cooks, but it’s delicious when it’s done. The recipe is a family secret.”
“I’ve never had pork tacos,” said Jake. “My dad always makes hamburger tacos. But if you say they’re good, I’ll try them.”
At dinner, after the boys ate four tacos each, Miguel’s mom asked them about school.
“It was okay,” said Miguel. “But some kids at lunch asked whether Jake and I had seen this one movie, then called us babies when we said our parents didn’t let us watch stuff like that.”
“Yeah,” said Jake, “Then they made fun of how we pray before eating. They said we should pray our parents would let us grow up.”
“You know how you thought the pork tacos were stinky earlier?” asked Miguel’s mom. “The Bible says that to the rest of the world, Christians are stinky too. As Jesus works in our hearts and helps us show others He’s changed us, we smell good to God, but the world wrinkles its nose at us. It’s the same smell, but some people don’t like it. Because you boys have tasted God’s goodness, you know the smell of obeying your parents and thanking God for what He’s given you is a good thing—kind of like how pork tacos went from stinky earlier to being pretty tasty, right?”
“That reminds me,” said Jake. “Can I get the recipe for my dad?”
“Sorry,” said Miguel’s mom. “Family secret. But we’d love to invite you both over next time we have them.”
“And hopefully he won’t ask ‘What’s that smell?’ when he comes in,” teased Miguel.
“Sorry,” said Jake. “I didn’t like the smell at first, but now it’s gonna make my mouth water because I know how good pork tacos taste!”
-Josh Mosey
How about you?
Do you ever feel like people treat you differently because you’re a Christian? The Bible says God is using us to share the good news of Jesus with the world. As we walk with Him each day, our lives are filled with the scent of His goodness and love. But we often don’t smell good to the world around us. Even if people hold their noses because you trust and follow Jesus, don’t be afraid to let others know you belong to Him.
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