The Fragrance Of Christ

Scripture

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

~2 Corinthians 2:15, NKJV

Quote

No matter how little natural winsomeness we may have, if we abide in CHRIST, we will manifest His beauty and His fragrance.

~Lettie Cowman

The missionary Charles Cowman spent time in Sargodha, India where there is an exquisite shrub that emits a tantalizing fragrance. The odd thing is that the shrub is the only thing in the local environment that is not ugly, dirty, barren or wretched. Everything else there is unattractive. The nearest thing to beauty is an old mud fence. Cowman says, “When I got a whiff of this beautiful fragrance, it refreshed me.” Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians 2 that we believers are a fragrance [Incense] from Christ to the Father. Just as the ancient Hebrew priest would offer incense up to God, Christ has made us that incense offering. So we are a fragrance to the Father and to those who are saved but to the unbelieving world, we are a stench, a deadly and distasteful fume. Paul concludes by saying, “Who is equal to such a calling?” Certainly not I but we must remember, Christ is the source of the fragrance. It is via His presence and grace that we become a fragrance.

When Mary anointed Jesus with her costly perfume, Judas was irate. I guess you might say that Judas represents both hypocrites in church and the unbelievers in the world. What Mary did was a simple act of kindness but it was also sacrificial and bold. It cost her more than money: she had to endure the ire of the unbelieving world. Wouldn’t it be great if our love for Jesus was appreciated by the world? The sad reality is that it is not. I have to admit: it is not difficult for me to believe that I am a stench to the world; I just hope and pray that I am a fragrance to the saved. Paul states God’s purpose clearly in 2 Corinthians 2:14, 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.

The Wisdom of Talking Small Steps

Although we are to set our sights on heaven, there are times when we need to think short term. I completed my first marathon by focusing on the mile markers, not the finish line. My constant goal was to make it one more mile. I have not had a diet coke in two days but I have not made a commitment to give up diet cokes {Dr. Pepper and Pepsi}. Obviously many Christians love Chick-Fil-A and cannot bear the thought of giving up the chicken sandwich forever: I get it but don’t think forever. If Christians band together and stop going to Chick-Fil-A for one month, what will happen?They would take such a lost that they would be forced to recant. The problem we face is that the LGBTQ+A has more resolve than we do. They make up less than 10% of the population and yet they badgered Chick-Fil-A into dropping the SALVATION ARMY from their charities. We are weak and worldly! If you can’t do without a chicken sandwich for a month, you are a wuss and a wimp. I don’t eat at Burger Queen and have not been to McDonald’s in over two months: it is no big deal. Grow up, get some chest hair, be a man–don’t let a bunch of sexual perverts out man you. That would bring me great shame. The rationale that everyone is doing it comes from the devil and the world: we are to be different.

Chick-fil-A CARES
P.O. Box 725489
Atlanta, GA 31139-9923PHONE:

1-866-232-2040
Monday – Saturday
8:00 AM – Midnight ET

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