Christ - Like Fragrance

Good morning! This morning, I read 2 Corinthians 2.

What really stuck out to me today was the last bit, verses 14-17:

"(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. (15)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. (16)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?
(17)You see, we are not like the many hunksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority, knowing that God is watching us."

There were two things that stuck out to me this morning.

1. Our Christ-like 'fragrance' that we should have is so different from this world that people of the world are not going to like us AT ALL. When they see/smell us, they smell "...a dreadful smell of death and doom...". How sad is that?

But that is just Satan working in them so they won't want to smell the fresh, Christ-like fragrance.

But God's side has several advantages to this. First of all, we have God on our side so we don't have to worry about anything! :D Second, since we are such a complete opposite from this world, it's easier for nonbelievers to see the drastic difference from the world and God in us. However, this comes with incredible responsibility on our part to actually obey God and shine for Him. But as long as we trust in God and focus our minds on Him, we will start being smelled as the "...life-giving perfume" that we really are, as we remain in God.

2. We cannot go around saying that we're Christ-like if we "...preach for personal profit." That, first of all, is not good for us because "...God is watching us." Also, we are not being Christ-like if we are looking for personal gain, and the world won't see that much difference in us from them. That is something we definetely do not want and God doesn't either.

Instead of preaching for personal gain (this could mean money, fame, reputation, etc.), preach "...Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as...servants for Jesus' sake." (2 Corinthians 4:5) Also, "preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ's authority..." while "...knowing that God is watching [you]."

Give God ALL the Glory!

Love ya'll!
Kaitlyn