August 28

What is that Fragrance You Are Wearing? 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 94:12-23 | Job 28:1 – 30:31 | 2 Corinthians 2:12 – 17 | 

Proverbs 22:7

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

“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” (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV).

“What is that fragrance you are wearing?”

“It’s called ‘fragrance of the knowledge of Christ.’ Do you like it?”

As we know and walk in the fullness of Christ, we begin to take on an aroma–-the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. Wherever we go, that pleasant aroma follows us. Just by being around us, people sense Christ’s joy, or his love, or his kindness, or one of his other winsome character qualities. As Christ lives out his life in us, we become more and more like him, and people begin to notice the difference.

It is this fragrance of Jesus that we should bring with us everywhere we go. Then doors open to share the hope we have in Christ. We no longer need to be peddlers who force our way intrusively into every conversation in a “telemarketer” fashion–which only turns people off anyway.

Paul looked for open doors (and prayed for them), and remained sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. He sought to share the hope he had in Christ, but knew that he was not a peddler on a sales call, he was a sincere lover of Christ who wanted to bring the fragrance of Jesus wherever he went–hoping it to be the fragrance leading to life to everyone in the room. Not everyone finds the aroma to their liking, but those whom God has prepared are bound to notice and ask about the fragrance we are wearing.

One of the best parts of the fragrance “knowledge of Christ” is that as we wear it, the aroma rises to heaven and brings a smile to the face of our heavenly Father. “For we are the aroma of Christ to God” (2:15 ESV). Isn’t it good to make God smile?

Father, I give myself as a living sacrifice to you. May the aroma of my obedience to Christ be pleasing to you. May the aroma of Jesus in me also be pleasant to others and may they be drawn to know Jesus. Amen.