The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:18, “But I have received everything in full, and have an abundance;

I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent,

a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”

Prisons are a dismal place. Over the years, I have preached in numerous prisons.

By and large, they are lacking in the clean and pleasant comforts which we have

in our homes. Just about anything of a pleasant appearance or a pleasing odor

would be welcome to the prisoners.

At the time of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he was a prisoner in Rome. He was

writing to thank those who had sent him money for food and the needs he had.

Among those things he had received was “a fragrant aroma.” Most of the commentators

view this figuratively, as if we were to say, “They are so sweet” with respect to something

that has no odor at all. But, I see no reason to understand Paul other than meaning this

quite literally. Sweet odors bring remembrances from the past. They take our minds off

of dismal situations, as well as giving relief from unpleasant odors. Bathing was not as

prevalent in those days as it is today –certainly not in prisons. History also reveals people

carrying sweet odors in handkerchiefs, so that they could “escape” unpleasant odors from

others. Remember the old saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” It’s not scriptural, but

the truth is if you’re not clean, you won’t be next to anything very long!

In any event, the “sweet fragrance” that had been sent to Paul was viewed as “an acceptable

sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” Whatever we are able to do for the LORD is a “well-pleasing
sacrifice” to Him. In prison, a pleasant smile from a prisoner was “a sweet odor.” One young

prisoner in Poland composed a song that depicted his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his

Savior. That was a sweet odor and sacrifice well pleasing to us and to God.

Our sincere and loving prayers are offered for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”