July 27, 2024 A FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
I wonder how often, if ever, do we see ourselves as being a ‘fragrance of Christ,’ or a ‘sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place?’ Obviously, God called Paul to have a major role in establishing the church and Paul was faithful to the calling of God. But the truths he lived by are the same truths we are to live by. We must understand that what Paul, and other New Testament writers wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was written for us. In fact, all of the New Testament is a ‘guide book’ on how believers are to live; of course, it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can live according to the ways of God. So, here is the point for us: we can be; we are called to be; and we should be a ‘sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place,’ and a ‘fragrance of Christ.’ This is not simply a ‘pipe dream,’ or something reserved for theological discussion, and is not reserved for a select few. And think about this: how awesome is it that you and I can indeed be an aroma and a fragrance of Christ-in every place! For this to be, something has to change. We live out of and we express what is in our hearts-and that is the secret to being a fragrance of Christ in all places. For example, for the one who loves professional baseball, you do not have to remind him to turn the tv on to watch his favorite team play-he just does it because it’s in his heart to do so. God knows that in our own strength we cannot live according to His ways-THEREFORE, He gives us a NEW heart. We must ask the Spirit to reveal to us our new identity as we read and meditate on His word. It is true; when we are living in His ways, He always leads us to triumph in Christ! Whether we are at work, at church, at the coffee shop, or at home, we can be a sweet aroma and a fragrance of Christ. Our lives, our demeanor, our attitudes, our responses, and our words can reflect Christ to those around us-how awesome that is! ‘Who is adequate for these things?’ How we could be a fragrance of Christ is beyond comprehension and its beyond our own ability; yet, that is exactly what God has made possible and what He desires.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good words, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Blessings, Buddy
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifest through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
I wonder how often, if ever, do we see ourselves as being a ‘fragrance of Christ,’ or a ‘sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place?’ Obviously, God called Paul to have a major role in establishing the church and Paul was faithful to the calling of God. But the truths he lived by are the same truths we are to live by. We must understand that what Paul, and other New Testament writers wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was written for us. In fact, all of the New Testament is a ‘guide book’ on how believers are to live; of course, it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can live according to the ways of God. So, here is the point for us: we can be; we are called to be; and we should be a ‘sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place,’ and a ‘fragrance of Christ.’ This is not simply a ‘pipe dream,’ or something reserved for theological discussion, and is not reserved for a select few. And think about this: how awesome is it that you and I can indeed be an aroma and a fragrance of Christ-in every place! For this to be, something has to change. We live out of and we express what is in our hearts-and that is the secret to being a fragrance of Christ in all places. For example, for the one who loves professional baseball, you do not have to remind him to turn the tv on to watch his favorite team play-he just does it because it’s in his heart to do so. God knows that in our own strength we cannot live according to His ways-THEREFORE, He gives us a NEW heart. We must ask the Spirit to reveal to us our new identity as we read and meditate on His word. It is true; when we are living in His ways, He always leads us to triumph in Christ! Whether we are at work, at church, at the coffee shop, or at home, we can be a sweet aroma and a fragrance of Christ. Our lives, our demeanor, our attitudes, our responses, and our words can reflect Christ to those around us-how awesome that is! ‘Who is adequate for these things?’ How we could be a fragrance of Christ is beyond comprehension and its beyond our own ability; yet, that is exactly what God has made possible and what He desires.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good words, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Blessings, Buddy
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