A Lingering Fragrance, A Message of Love! (2 Cor 1-3)
2:51 AM
Life is not easy. In fact, life can consist of onset after the onset of trials, hardships, heartaches and frustration. I think that is one reason why the letters of Paul speak to me at such a deep level. Paul was a man who knew hardship, persecution, and yes....even despair. But, Paul is one of the most inspirational writers of the Bible because he encourages us in the midst of the difficult circumstances, to trust in and rely on God.
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (1:8-9)
Paul was a master of words, divinely inspired by God. His poetic imagery helps us realize that there is a purpose for all aspects of our lives...the happy, triumphant events and the difficult, painful trials. He always emphasizes that through Christ, God is able to utilize us for His divine purposes of influencing the world around us. God wants us to leave a lingering fragrance of the love of Christ wherever we go. “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. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life...” (2:14-16)
Paul goes on to describe how God communicates through us to a lost world. Not everyone picks up a Bible to read the Words of God. Not everyone turns the radio to a Christian station. Not everyone attends Church or a bible study. But, God may choose to bring the message of his love and salvation to others through us. We become his message bearers.
“And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (3:3)
Because we trust in Christ, He provides the confidence we need to represent Him and relay to others that they can move from death to life.
“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (3:4-6)
This world is cloaked in darkness and sin. God wants to reveal Himself and open the eyes of all people to the need for His salvation. As His children, He wants to transform us to be more and more like Christ. He wants to increase our spiritual understanding and have a personal, every deepening relationship with us.
“But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”(3:16-18)
Yes, life is difficult and full of trials but God is faithful and utilizes all facets of our surrendered lives for His glory and His purposes. He wants us to impact the world around us as He empowers us to persevere, endure, trust, and extend His love to others.
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