Incense

“We are indeed the incense offered by Christ to God.” We? That’s what the Book says. We who believe, whose sins are under the blood, we are actually a pure and fragrant offering which the Son presents to His Father. How is it possible? “Who is equal to such a calling?” (2 Cor. 2:15,17). Not one of us possesses in himself the least qualification. It is Christ who, by offering Himself, qualifies us to become an offering acceptable to God. Then and only then can we present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. Then and only then---- because Christ has first been offered and has offered us ---are we “holy,” “acceptable to God.”
I write this just after having sinned greatly against someone I love. What I did I had meant for good, but it turned into an offense. I am a sinner, and deeply aware of it this morning ----yet, having confessed it, I am, through Christ, fragrant incense. What mercy and what grace!

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot