No, I don't mean that in the 'I didn't shower in 4 days and have been wearing the same clothes' kind of way (though that's not far from the truth).
What I mean is that, I am starting to smell like Jesus. Actually I've been smelling like Him for a while, but now I'm really starting to wreak. And I want to know if that offends people… I really hope it does.
“The love of God in you should offend people's reality"
– Squad leader, who may have gotten it from someone else
Meaning, that my love should manifest in such abnormal ways, that it causes offense in people who don't have that love. That the love of Jesus in me, is so strong and obvious, that it calls others out, and shows the truth of their own heart.
What does operating with the love of God look like? It looks like not engaging in a fight, giving without the expectation of receiving, preferring others over yourself, loving people who shouldn't deserve it.
On the race this manifests in fighting anger with warmth during feedback, giving your teammate the mattress and taking the floor, praying for the hearts of the men that abuse women, stopping to talk to the 'annoying' street vendors that most shoo away, trusting a teammate again immediately after they let you down, telling the absolute truth in every situation, and a hundred other ways.
There is no logical reason to do any of these things. But God doesn't do logic. He does love, and he does heart. And as my team and I walk closer with God, we also throw logic in the trash, operate out of love, and call out people's heart.
But what effect does walking with God have? Well, it makes you smell. The kind of smell that people can't decide if they love or hate. The kind of smell that draws them in closer. The kind of smell that others want, but don't know how to get. The kind of smell that repulses, but yet you come back for more.
So here's the thing. I smell like Jesus. Maybe you like it, maybe you don't. If you don't like it, then I hope everything I do out of His love offends you. And I hope that offense causes you to examine your heart and remove some junk (just fyi, I had a crap-load of junk to remove, and still do have a lot).
And if you do like the smell, then I challenge you to start walking in God's love, to start smelling like Jesus, and to start offending people's reality.
And yes, my actual smell would probably offend you as well!
