March 16 | 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

“Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and reveals through us the knowledge of Him in every place, for we are the fragrance of Christ to God among those being saved and among those perishing, one, a fragrance from death to death, but to the other, a fragrance from life to life, and who is sufficient? For we are not, like many, peddlers of God’s Word, but as with sincerity, as from God, in God’s sight we speak in Christ..” (2 Corinthians 2:14–17)

When you walk into the kitchen before dinner, the aroma of the food grabs your attention. You know what’s cooking. The Folgers commercial has the tagline, “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.” On the other hand, everyone knows when a skunk has been aggravated.

Paul pictures a Roman victory procession. When the Romans conquered foreign people, the generals returned to Rome and paraded their captured spoils and slaves in the streets. Jesus leads us in triumphal procession not as His slaves, but as free people. We are the examples of Jesus’s grace and goodness.

When we talk about Jesus and live our lives the way He orders them, people notice. For some people, we show life to their dead spirits. The smell of Jesus on us draws the lost to Jesus. We show our lifestyle that they are dead in their sins and need a Savior.

Among other Christians, we are the aroma of life to life. We recognize other believers for the same reason the lost realize their death. We show life and light wherever we go.

Action Step: With every action, word, and thought, you smell like Jesus. Are you showing others to Jesus by your lifestyle?

Jesus, help me show others what you have done in my life. I want to demonstrate your goodness and grace to those around me just by walking in obedience to Your Spirit. Show me how to live like you and light the way for others to know you.