Be Sweet

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
2nd Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT

To help understand this analogy in today's world, it is helpful to know a little history. The analogy is very powerful when you understand that "In a Roman triumphal procession, the Roman general would display his treasures and captives amidst a cloud of incense burned for the gods. To the victors, the aroma was sweet; to the captives in the parade, it was the smell of slavery and death. When Christians preach the Good News, it is good news to some and repulsive news to others. Believers recognize the life-giving fragrance of the message. To nonbelievers, however, it smells foul, like death - their own.*"

Do you ever wonder why someone doesn't like you when you never did anything to them? It's the Holy in you that the unholy in them cannot abide. When you have Jesus living inside of you and you are full of the Holy Spirit, it's going to come out of you. You are going to spread the knowledge of Christ within your sphere of influence. There will be those who love and appreciate it, and there will be those who resent the living daylights out of it. Verse 15 in the Voice translation reads, In a turbulent world where people are either dying or being rescued, we are the sweet smell of the Anointed to God our Father. So always be sweet, dear ones.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for Your Word that enables us to know You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit to help us rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thank You for Your Son whereby we may cry, "Abba, Father!" Help us to always be a sweet smelling savor of Christ. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

*Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers