September 17, 2024 -- II Corinthians 2:14 -- What's that smell?

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

II Corinthians 2:14 ESV

Have you ever stood in an elevator with a man who smoked and who has just popped a breath mint? You can smell the stench of the cigarettes emanating from his clothes while at the same time catch the scent of the breath mint. Or perhaps you’ve been in church and sat behind a woman who has liberally used her new perfume. Depending on which way the fan is blowing, you might find yourself sitting in a steady stream of a strong smell. Interestingly, the woman doesn’t smell herself nor realize how strong the perfume is. The man in this illustration believes a small mint masks what is stronger and reeking from him.

By the same token how you live in Christ is obvious to the people around you. You may believe you’ve got the fragrance of Christ about you, but the people near you only smell insincerity. You can not fool the people who know you best. What you really are will be so obvious to people around you, even if you don’t realize it yourself.

Think of the famous question at a job interview: “I’ve heard your strengths, now what weakness do you bring to this job?” At this point a man will stutter, and pause, stumbling because our weaknesses often are not immediately apparent to us. A wise man, with a smirk, might suggest: “Let me call my wife, she knows them all too well”. While we might laugh at that, the fact is, our weaknesses are obvious to the people around us.

Dear fellow believer, this brief passage ought to remind you of the need you have for hard, true accountability. Who in your life comments on your walk with God? Who comments on where you are strong, where you are weak, where you are hypocritical and where your words match your actions? Ask the Spirit of God to show you, as you read the Bible, what sins you need to confess. Pray for the Spirit to give you a fellow Christian with whom you can speak openly, honestly, applying the Word of God to both expose your sins and then to confirm the forgiveness that is so richly yours in Christ. Do this so that your walk with Him fits what you say about Him.

ALMIGHTY GOD, of Whose righteous will all things are, and were created: You have gathered our people into a great nation, and sent them to sow beside all waters, and multiply sure dwellings on the earth. Deepen the root of our life in everlasting righteousness. Make us equal to our high trusts, reverent in the use of freedom, just in the exercise of power, generous in the protection of weakness. With all Your blessings, bless Your servant Charles III, our King, with all the members of the Royal House. Fill his heart and theirs with such loyalty to You, that his people may be exalted by their loyalty to him. To our legislators and councillors give insight and faithfulness, that our lays may clearly speak the right, and our judges purely interpret them. May wisdom and knowledge be the stability of our times, and our deepest trust be in You, the Lord of nations, and the King of kings, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DIVINE SERVICE BOOK FOR THE ARMED FORCES, 1950, page 16

https://youtu.be/yxCb6l3jkis?si=T-bNQQrN06S79ZMT “I am Not My Own”