2Cr 2:14Now thanks [be] to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.2Cr 2:15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.2Cr 2:16To the one [we are] the aroma of death [leading] to death, and to the other the aroma of life [leading] to life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?2Cr 2:17For we are not, as so many, [fn] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
I am gonna start this right here with a question. . . . . have you ever had an epiphany? Well, I did this morning! As I was reading this devotion, I saw something that made such perfect sense that I had not really been able to put a finger on before! Let me ask you another question. . . . have you ever done all you can to be the best person you can, giving of yourself for no other reason than to do the will of Your Father with no hidden agenda and wanting nothing in return but the satisfaction of a job well done for Him. . . . . and then got persecuted for it by others thinking you just want all of the credit and that you have a hidden agenda? Well. . . . I have and I have racked my brain wondering why! This scripture here has given me a bit of an insight! Now I am not trying to build up anything I have done. . . .not at all. . . . for my one true goal is to do for others as Christ has done for us. . . . how do you ever attain that one?! ! ! ! In this scripture. . . it is clear that the fragrance of God is diffused through us. . . . . kinda like those diffusing sticks that make your house smell so good, but they do not stick out liked a sore thumb! The beautiful Aroma of God is too gently loft from us as we do His will! We are truly and instrument of God in this way. Now, it goes on to say that to the fellow Christians. . . . this is a pleasing fragrance that brings about life in God! After all, through Christ we have the gift of eternal life! However, to those who are not saved and do not know the true Spirit of Christ, we have the wretched smell of death! Now I do not know about you, but when someone is bringing horrible news that condemns me. . . . I tend to go on the defensive! The aroma of death and destruction puts a fear in your heart that makes you automatically put up your guard. This must be what it is like in this instance! Automatic thoughts of hidden agendas and deception would come to mind. . . . for the ways of Christ are foolishness to a lost and dying world! My heart aches and breaks for those who feel this kind of unrest! Instead of getting defensive myself. . . . I need to remember to pray harder and longer and more intensely knowing in my heart that God will use EVERY situation for His good! look at the life of Christ. . . . He was perfect. . . . His intentions were of the purest possible intent. . . . . . and yet he was mocked, battered (wow what an understatement!), bruised, His perfect ways were hated, unrecognized, despised and rejected, and then He was crucified. . . . . all I got was hurt feelings. . . . what foolishness on my part! Instead. . . . . I should consider it pure joy, for I am doing the will of my Father who loves me! I, unlike Christ am totally imperfect and I have sin in my life. . . . pride. . . . the wrong kind. . . . . .and still, God can use me, and at the same time, reveal these things to me! I long to be a big ole diffusing stick for the fragrance of God. . . . I just HAVE to remember that to the lost. . . . .I stink! Funny part about it is. . . . that is a good thing! Maybe through the stink of death. . . realization will come and lives will be changed. . . .that is my prayer! Just recently we had a concert where we were the only Christian Band and most of the people there we as lost as could be! As the boys started singing of the Beauty of Christ.. . . His Blood. . . .His Sacrifice. . . . the people were not very receptive and some even left. . . . .this is why! This is an example of the above scripture. To those in the crowd who were Christians. . . it had the sweet smell of Christ. . . .to those who were lost. . . it carried conviction and the smell of death they will experience if they do not change their ways! As the scripture says," 2Cr 2:17For we are not, as so many, [fn] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ." We are not to be peddling the Word of God, we are to be living it! Father, let my life speak of You in sincerity in the sight of God in Christ!
~Father God, I long to exude the sweet fragrance of You! I long to have the sweet smell of life that only comes from You reaching far and wide to those around! I also now realize Father that this fragrance is only sweet to those who know You. . . .to those who love and accept You! I now realize that when I am doing my part and that when I am earnestly doing Your will, I will smell to others as the stench of death! I now realize that when intentions are pure and when I am functioning as You would have me function. . . . I will be hated and despised for Your fragrance will bring about fear and trembling! I pray Father that through it all, You will use me to help those who do not know You to find the beautiful fragrance of LIFE! Eternal Life through Your precious Son Jesus Christ! I pray that You will help me keep my intentions pure, that Your fragrance will never go away or die down through me! I pray Father that You forgive me for any times that my intentions were not pure and sought self gratification in which then I am a stench to those who know and love You! Forgive me for the times that I have not pleased You! Help me to understand and to see others with Your eyes and Your heart! I love You and I thank You for all You are going to do in my life and the lives of those You have placed in my life! I Praise You Father for Your revelation in my life! I ask all of these things in the precious name of Jesus. . . . Amen!~
I am gonna start this right here with a question. . . . . have you ever had an epiphany? Well, I did this morning! As I was reading this devotion, I saw something that made such perfect sense that I had not really been able to put a finger on before! Let me ask you another question. . . . have you ever done all you can to be the best person you can, giving of yourself for no other reason than to do the will of Your Father with no hidden agenda and wanting nothing in return but the satisfaction of a job well done for Him. . . . . and then got persecuted for it by others thinking you just want all of the credit and that you have a hidden agenda? Well. . . . I have and I have racked my brain wondering why! This scripture here has given me a bit of an insight! Now I am not trying to build up anything I have done. . . .not at all. . . . for my one true goal is to do for others as Christ has done for us. . . . how do you ever attain that one?! ! ! ! In this scripture. . . it is clear that the fragrance of God is diffused through us. . . . . kinda like those diffusing sticks that make your house smell so good, but they do not stick out liked a sore thumb! The beautiful Aroma of God is too gently loft from us as we do His will! We are truly and instrument of God in this way. Now, it goes on to say that to the fellow Christians. . . . this is a pleasing fragrance that brings about life in God! After all, through Christ we have the gift of eternal life! However, to those who are not saved and do not know the true Spirit of Christ, we have the wretched smell of death! Now I do not know about you, but when someone is bringing horrible news that condemns me. . . . I tend to go on the defensive! The aroma of death and destruction puts a fear in your heart that makes you automatically put up your guard. This must be what it is like in this instance! Automatic thoughts of hidden agendas and deception would come to mind. . . . for the ways of Christ are foolishness to a lost and dying world! My heart aches and breaks for those who feel this kind of unrest! Instead of getting defensive myself. . . . I need to remember to pray harder and longer and more intensely knowing in my heart that God will use EVERY situation for His good! look at the life of Christ. . . . He was perfect. . . . His intentions were of the purest possible intent. . . . . . and yet he was mocked, battered (wow what an understatement!), bruised, His perfect ways were hated, unrecognized, despised and rejected, and then He was crucified. . . . . all I got was hurt feelings. . . . what foolishness on my part! Instead. . . . . I should consider it pure joy, for I am doing the will of my Father who loves me! I, unlike Christ am totally imperfect and I have sin in my life. . . . pride. . . . the wrong kind. . . . . .and still, God can use me, and at the same time, reveal these things to me! I long to be a big ole diffusing stick for the fragrance of God. . . . I just HAVE to remember that to the lost. . . . .I stink! Funny part about it is. . . . that is a good thing! Maybe through the stink of death. . . realization will come and lives will be changed. . . .that is my prayer! Just recently we had a concert where we were the only Christian Band and most of the people there we as lost as could be! As the boys started singing of the Beauty of Christ.. . . His Blood. . . .His Sacrifice. . . . the people were not very receptive and some even left. . . . .this is why! This is an example of the above scripture. To those in the crowd who were Christians. . . it had the sweet smell of Christ. . . .to those who were lost. . . it carried conviction and the smell of death they will experience if they do not change their ways! As the scripture says," 2Cr 2:17For we are not, as so many, [fn] peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ." We are not to be peddling the Word of God, we are to be living it! Father, let my life speak of You in sincerity in the sight of God in Christ!
~Father God, I long to exude the sweet fragrance of You! I long to have the sweet smell of life that only comes from You reaching far and wide to those around! I also now realize Father that this fragrance is only sweet to those who know You. . . .to those who love and accept You! I now realize that when I am doing my part and that when I am earnestly doing Your will, I will smell to others as the stench of death! I now realize that when intentions are pure and when I am functioning as You would have me function. . . . I will be hated and despised for Your fragrance will bring about fear and trembling! I pray Father that through it all, You will use me to help those who do not know You to find the beautiful fragrance of LIFE! Eternal Life through Your precious Son Jesus Christ! I pray that You will help me keep my intentions pure, that Your fragrance will never go away or die down through me! I pray Father that You forgive me for any times that my intentions were not pure and sought self gratification in which then I am a stench to those who know and love You! Forgive me for the times that I have not pleased You! Help me to understand and to see others with Your eyes and Your heart! I love You and I thank You for all You are going to do in my life and the lives of those You have placed in my life! I Praise You Father for Your revelation in my life! I ask all of these things in the precious name of Jesus. . . . Amen!~
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