Worship and Bacon

I know. The two words sound weird together right? Well let me explain.

My kids love bacon. They are 3 and 5. We cook “turkey bacon” in our house but it is just as tasty…

Anyhow one day I was making breakfast. My daughter wakes up and comes straight to the kitchen. “Mom, are you cooking baking? Is it ready? Can I have some?” Isaac who doesn’t talk yet comes by and stands on tip toes with an expression that is the same, “I want some!” The smell is intoxicating. The smell is inviting…Best of all…the smell invites you in.

I know it might seem strange…but I think of this often. The sense of “smell” I mean. I love fragrance. Perfumes, scented candles, night jasmine in bloom, a clean baby’s hair…etc. One of the best scents I love is the smell of bacon cooking over a campfire in Yosemite. There is nothing like it! You have the combined scent of fresh air, pine trees and the wonderful smell of “outdoors” with the smell of fire wood burning and bacon cooking.

A couple of weeks ago I was cooking breakfast for my family. Olivia and Isaac congregate around me waiting for the bacon to be cooked and consumed. I realized--- this is exactly what worship is. It is a sweet smelling aroma. It draws you in. Worship is a fragrance of a sacrifice. Recall in the old testament God directed Moses to burn the “fat” to the LORD. This is the best part. When the fat of an animal is burned it smells so good! That’s what God wants from us. He wants us to be drawn into Him so that our worship is a sweet smelling aroma and it is so fragrant, so inviting that OTHERS want to be near the LORD too.

'and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the LORD's. Leviticus 3:16

I bet people passing/travelng by could smell it and notice and think to themselves, "someone is probably making an offering to the LORD."

Our life is to be lived out sacrificially to the LORD. Jesus gave Himself as an offering and the Word says His sacrificial, surrendered life was a “sweet smelling aroma” to the Father.

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 Our praise and/or singing is often called “worship.” The same idea applies. Worship is (or should be) like bacon. It is a sweet smelling aroma to the LORD and it draws others into the presence of the Almighty. Some of my favorite worship artists are Keith Green, Phil Wickham, Mary Barrett, Sherri Youngward, and Jeremy Camp. I often weep when I listen and worship to their songs. The songs are so powerful that I am brought to a place of worship with Jesus. The artist lived a life (or is living a life) poured out to Jesus and you can hear their love for the LORD through the song. The song causes you to want to love God like that! You hear the song and it turns into a prayer…

Here's my personal application…

Sometimes in church services I get distracted during worship. People walking in, a cell phone rings, I can’t find my pen…(it’s somewhere in this purse), the worship group leader got a new hair cut, I see a friend of mine sitting close by, etc. I notice my heart is unsettled. I close my eyes and say this simple prayer, “Just me and you Jesus.” I then try to focus in on worshipping him. I pray and I focus on the words of the song. I ask the Spirit to fill me so I can worship in spirit and in truth. I desire, just like you do, for my worship to be a sweet smelling aroma to the LORD. God desires our sacrifice to be sweet and pleasant. The result--When we have a worshipful heart we are drawn into His presence and others will see Christ through you and they will be drawn in too.

LORD Jesus, help us to have a worship that smells so good to you…May our worship rise to you like the yummy intoxicating smell of bacon cooking on the grill….everyone can smell food cooking and knows it is something good. May our worship please you and also affect our lives so powerfully that others are drawn to you by the aroma our life produces. We know this can only be done through the Spirit, prayer and meditation on your Word. Fill us with your Spirit and make us true worshippers so our life brings you glory and honor and praise. In Jesus Holy Name, AMEN