Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
My friend Riza owns a tea company in the mountain West. On the wall of her office, a collection of tea infusers is artfully displayed. From America to the Far East, from present day to decades ago, and all shapes and sizes, her collection captures the hearts of all who enjoy an aromatic cup of tea.
Being new to the art of loose-leaf tea drinking, I checked out Riza’s company website to discover what makes using these tea infusers so precious. Some important tips I learned include:
- Allow your tea leaves enough room to fully open and the water to infuse through them properly. They should not be “stuffed” into a small confining holder.
- The only time you would use something such as a “teaball” or closed teaspoon is when you are brewing a small particle tea such a rooibos or herbals.
- The openings of the infuser should be small enough to keep pieces from getting into your cup.
…a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Philippians 4:18 (NKJV)
As I read my Bible while sipping my loose-leaf tea each morning, I come across words like “diffuse” and “fragrance” and “sweet-smelling” and “aroma,” and I know there must be a lesson in all of this for us. Just as the tea is infused into the hot water, so God’s Word is infused in me, as I drink from His fountain of Living Water. And just as the leaves should be given room too open, we too must allow our hearts to be fully open to God’s word and guidance. And just as the tea’s aroma brings me joy, my prayers bring joy to the heart of God. If a friend or family member were to walk by while I sipped my tea, they might say, “Mmm, that smells delicious, what flavor are you having today?” And as I go out into the world to run errands and do all God calls me to do, perhaps others will smell the sweet fragrance of His Word shining out of me, asking, “What makes your life such a pleasant aroma?”
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord. Psalm 104:34 (NKJV)
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV)
Most of all, we must look to Jesus, our example for all we do. Ephesians 5:2 tells us to walk in love like Jesus. For when He gave His life for our sins on the Cross, it was the sweetest fragrant offering God the Father would ever receive. Remember, in the Old Testament, God’s children were required to bring animal sacrifices to the temple to atone for their sins (Leviticus 1). Even before that, Noah offered animal sacrifices to the Lord as soon as they got off the ark, and it was a soothing aroma to Him (Genesis 8:21). Yet we, the Church, children of the New Testament, do not offer the animal sacrifices, because Jesus already paid the price for our sins on the Cross. All we have to do is accept His sweet offering, and we also will have His beautiful fragrance.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)
Today’s TEA CUPP: Be a TEA Infuser! Start your day with Jesus by reading His Word, your Bible. Let your prayers come before Him as a sweet incense. Then go out and infuse the world with His love!!! Tell them, Jesus is coming soon! (If you missed last week’s post, you will want to exhort them to Get on the Ark!).
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2 (NKJV)
…and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 (NKJV)
I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. Ezekiel 20:41 (NKJV)
Thank you for stopping by My TEA CUPP Prayers! If you enjoyed today’s devotion, you might also like to read A Sweet Aroma and Filling the Bowls.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982
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