The Fragrance of the Knowledge of God

Hello my friends. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 is a portion of the Bible that speaks to me and causes me to stop and reflect. The Passion Translation (TPT) brings new insight so I have been meditating on its message. It may be only 4 simple verses, but they speak volumes, and their impact is increasing as I hide His words in my heart.

v 14. "God always makes his grace visible in Christ, who includes us as partners of his endless triumph. Through our yielded lives he spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go."

The first thing I notice is that God's grace is visible. Grace is obvious in Christ's words and His actions, but God has chosen to include us; to make us His partners. In this way, His grace is also available to us, and should be visible in our lives. A common understanding of "grace" is the unmerited favor of God. It is not something owed to us, or to which we can lay claim, but it is available. This Passion Translation calls Jesus' work "his endless triumph". Jesus is always triumphant. If we are His partners, we too can walk in triumph over our circumstances, and despite the challenges of our lives. When our lives are yielded to His leading and His direction, we embody His fragrance.

Have you ever been in a room where a person's choice of cologne seems to have permeated every surface; even the air itself? If it is a fragrance that you dislike, it can cause you to pull back from them, make a face, take an offense, and open a window. You might start to get a headache in reaction, and begin to flail your arms around trying to reduce its potency. The scent is overwhelming and appears inescapable.

If it is a fragrance that you enjoy, it may evoke an emotion or draw out a pleasant response from you. The person's clothing exudes the character of the scent they carry, and changes the atmosphere around them. It invites others to come close and partake of the joy and comfort it offers.

V 15-16 "We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God - a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing. The unbelievers smell a deadly stench that leads to death, but believers smell the life-giving aroma that leads to abundant life. And who of us can rise to this challenge?"

If we have chosen to walk with God and become followers of Christ, we have begun to carry the unmistakable aroma of Christ, the Anointed One. Our character has begun to reflect His ways. We are no longer showing up looking like our old selves and smelling of our stress, and our preoccupation with getting what we want. We have begun to reflect the perfume of God. To those who have not chosen this path, we smell like the stench of death. It could be that they just cannot relate to us, or that they find our ways so foreign that they run the other way. This verse tells us it is a life-giving aroma that leads to abundance, but that it is only recognized by those who are also believers, or are being drawn by the Holy Spirit. The challenge is to allow Him to conform us into His image so that others see Him in us. They smell His fragrance. We carry the atmosphere of heaven with us.

v 17 "For unlike so many, we are not peddlers of God's Word who water down the message. We are those sent from God with pure motives, who speak in the sight of God from our union with Christ."

We are not peddlers, trying to convince others of their need for our product, but actually carriers of the essence of Christ and His victory. We embody Christ to those whose hearts are open to His call. We are the only gospel some may ever hear. Verse 16 finished with "And who of us can rise to this challenge?" Well, none of us can do this in our own strength or determination. We can only do this by His grace, available to us as we yield to God's Spirit, and to His plan.

Are you ready to carry the fragrance of Christ in your everyday life? It takes yielding your will to His ways. It is His plan, and we are His partners. We are life-giving as we carry His aroma. Bless you my friends, and may you live empowered to become all that God created you to be.