WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

TODAY'S READING: Judges 13-16; 2 Cor. 2

SCRIPTURE

2 Cor. 2:14-17 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. [16] To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? [17] Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

OBSERVATION

Thanks be to God, who leads us ... uses us...
We are to God, a good smell among those being saved and those perishing
To some people we smell good and to others we smell bad.
When we speak, we speak as those sent from God.

APPLICATION

I'm taken back by the pluralism in the passage. It's all about us and we.
Buy a single rose and you've got a good smell, Buy a dozen and you've got a great smell.
We must share Jesus together. That's the call of our lives, that is the church.
TOGETHER, FOREVER, A PLEASING AROMA.
LOOK UP PLEASING AROMA is the Hebrew Scriptures and it will always involve sacrifice.
WHAT IS GOD CALLING US TO SACRIFICE TOGETHER, TODAY?

PRAYER

Father,
Your desire is to lead us to Jesus and to use us to share Jesus.
Help us, discover "us" - show us what community looks like.
Teach us to be the "Church" to a needy world.
We know going in, we will offend some, but others will be saved.
CLEANSE US, and let the fragrance of our salvation attract others.