DECEMBER 3 – Reading 337

by John Christian Pra | December 3

“YOU SMELL!”
(2 Corinthians 1:1 – 4:18)

“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 Corinthians 2:15-16

We all have a smell. Some smells are a good thing! Think about walking into your grandmother’s home and smelling the aroma of her cooking. That brings joy and comfort to your heart. We all have certain smells that bring up the memory of something special in our lives.

But not all smells are good smells. There are other scents that turn our stomach and make us feel sick. I remember as a child having to take a chewable medicine while I was sick and I could barely keep this artificially flavored tablet down! Even to this day, I remember the “scent” of that medicine and it turns my stomach when anything resembles it. 

Paul here is letting the Corinthian Christians know that they all smell. To some people, we smell good. He says that this is the fragrance of life to life. It’s those who smell Christ on us and it brings them to a place of being able to see Him and receive Him. For others, we smell like death. To some people, we will be unbearable for no other reason than that we are a follower of Jesus Christ and we are filled with the Holy Spirit.  

My question for you: what do you smell like? Do you carry the aroma of Christ everywhere you go? Do you walk in the Presence of God, carrying his Presence into every room you step into? Do people recognize something different about you because of the One you are with? We all carry a scent, the question is, is it the right one? 

Seek Jesus and live within His Presence. Let His aroma get on you so that you can carry that smell everywhere you go. 

Reflections:

• What scents in life carry good memories for you?

   

• What aroma (presence) do you bring when you enter a room? Do people feel the Presence of God through you or the presence of anxiety, fear, dread, or some other smell?

Application: 

• Spend a short time in the Presence of Jesus before you go to work, enter a meeting, or have a conversation today. Allow yourself to be immersed in the aroma of Christ.

   

• Invite Jesus into every part of your life and begin to take note of the changes that are made as you spread the aroma of Christ. 

Closing Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for your Presence in my life. Thank you that you have saved me, but also filled me with your Holy Spirit. Today, I repent for any aroma I have spread that has not been true of who you are. For anything that has pointed people away from you, I ask for cleansing. Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so I may spread your fragrance in every area of my life. I pray many would come to life because of this and that I would stand strong when people smell death because I follow you. I invite you into all areas of my life today. Amen.