And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. ( Ephesians 5:2 KJV)
We were by the fish section of a grocery store. I had seen the young man attending to this area before. He was dark-skinned and seemed to be from the Middle East.
The first time I saw him, I observed him and thought he might be one ready for salvation. I looked around to see if there might be an opportunity to talk with him. There was another man working with him, and I knew that this was not the day to talk with this young man.
On another day, I saw this young man again. I observed him once again. Surely, he was ready for salvation. But, again, I did not have the opportunity to speak with him.
But on this day, as we drew near, I could smell the fish. The same young man was working this area. I looked at him, as he worked. This time he was working alone. I just knew he was ready to hear about Jesus and believe in Him.
As my husband and I got closer to the counter, I approached it more closely and spoke to him. “Do you ever get tired of the smell of fish?”
He looked up at me and came closer to the counter. He had the most beautiful smile. “I don’t smell it. Just like when someone wears a cologne, they don’t smell it on themselves because they are used to it. Sometimes you can smell their cologne in their car, but they are so used to it, they don’t smell it.”
As we listened to him, he cut our order of fish. “What about when you get home, do you smell it on yourself?”
He smiled. “No, not at all.”
He went to the middle of the area to weigh the fish and wrap it. I asked what his name was.
He gave an American name and said, “Everyone is surprised when I tell them my name. They think that my name would be a Muslim one.” He smiled.
When he returned to give us the wrapped fish, I said, “You know there is a fragrance that if you get near it, it comes on you. And, if you get very close, it becomes one with you. And you cannot wash it off or you cannot scrub it off. It stays with you the rest of your life.”
Very intrigued, he drew even closer to us. “What is it? Tell me what it is.” He couldn’t get closer!
I looked at his eyes and said, “It is the love of God for you!”
“Ah, I am from Ethiopia and am Orthodox. There is a percentage of us who know God. And once I went with a group to be among other people. They talked about God. I really like it when people talk about God.”
“God said that His Son’s sacrifice on the cross was a sweet-smelling fragrance to Him. Do you know God yourself? Have you ever believed in Jesus as your Saviour?” I asked him.
“No, I have not,” he said.
“Would you like to know Him?”
“Yes, but how do I do that?” he inquired.
“All you have to do is ask Him.” I engaged with him. He came closer.
“How do I do that?”
“Would you like me to pray with you and help you ask Him?” I asked.
Peering into my eyes and drawing even closer, he said, “Yes, please.” I had to tiptoe to get a little over the stand of fish so that he would hear me clearly. He closed his eyes and bowed his head. I did the same.
We prayed together as he invited Jesus into his life to be his Saviour. When we were done praying, he gave that wonderful smile, with eyes gleaming as he thanked me.
He then shared his need for work in the profession that he had studied. I asked, “Would you like to pray to ask Him for this work?”
“Yes!” he answered quickly. Again, we bowed our heads and closed our eyes. I prayed, asking the Lord to give him the opportunity to be in the work of his profession for His glory and for no other reason. He smiled, as he looked at me.
“We have asked Him. Now, He will move on your behalf and the situation to answer you.” He was assured, with faith in his eyes, that the work was starting.
He was just about to ask about the fragrance. I could tell it in his voice. “You need to read the Bible and, as you learn more about the Saviour who now lives in You, His fragrance in you will get stronger and stronger.”
“Ah.” He understood.
I told him that we would be praying for him and that I would check to hear of what God was doing. He thanked us, with expectation.
“Abba, Father, I knew that You were after this soul, and You made it possible to present salvation in Your Son. Jesus, I thank You that Your Spirit got my attention for this young man’s soul. What a beautiful smile You gave this young man, one to use for your glory as he grows in the fragrance of Your love and tells of what You do for him.”