‘…We are…the aroma of Christ…’ 2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV
‘We are…the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved, and those who are perishing. To one, we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life…’ (2 Corinthians 2:15–16 NIV) When the Roman army won in battle, they paraded their defeated foes through the streets in chains. And as part of the celebration they burned incense on a series of altars throughout the city. That way those who couldn’t see the procession knew the army had triumphed because they could smell the incense. The aroma was symbolic of their victory—and there’s a lesson here for you. As followers of Christ we’ve been called to carry with us ‘…the fragrance of the knowledge of Him…’ (2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV) Forget Estée Lauder and Chanel No. 5; your life should be so permeated with God’s presence that people around you sense it. After all, you are the most compelling evidence that Jesus is alive and well in His children. In the great cathedrals of Europe you’ll see beautiful stained glass windows portraying important events in the life of Christ. And while it’s good to appreciate such craftsmanship, God doesn’t need church windows to tell His story. He uses born–again, tuned–in, turned–on believers to do that. Have you ever noticed that the longer some husbands and wives live together, the more they begin to talk and act alike? It’s the same with us: the more time we spend with Jesus, talking to Him, meditating on His Word and basking in His presence, the more people are going to ask, ‘What’s so different about you?’
SoulFood: Jer 22-24, Luke 22:63-71, Ps 31, Prov 8:34-36
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2015
