Young People's Group

THE CHALLENGE TO BE THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST

by Pastor Mitch
February 19, 2015

Thanking God For His Leading

Happy Chinese New Year! May you have a great time of being with family, relatives and friends during this festive period. Let’s thank God for all that He has blessed us with as we celebrate the Chinese New Year. One thing that I am most thankful to God for is His leading. The Lord does lead us in all things in life. This was something that the apostle Paul was full of gratitude to God for.

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ” 
2 Corinthians 2:14

Paul was in Troas seeking to preach the gospel of Christ and a door was opened to him to do so. He was able to see the Lord’s hand leading him to Troas and bringing about this opportunity to speak of Christ. As he wrote these verses, Paul was full of thanksgiving to God and His grace for His leading in triumph in the Lord Jesus. He had in mind a victor’s triumphant parade in the city after a victory in the battlefield. It is wonderful to know that the Lord will always lead us in triumph. This Chinese New Year and beyond, let’s always be conscious and thankful that God will lead us to do His will in the sphere of the Lord Jesus.

Being The Fragrance Of Christ In Every Place

“And through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 
2 Corinthians 2:14-15

As the Lord led Paul and company, he sought to be His fragrance wherever he went. The root meaning of the word “fragrance” (first mention of it) in the Greek actually means something that has a smell, which could either be a bad one or a good one. When it was used by Paul in the text of 2 Corinthians 2, the resultant meaning is fragrance. The thing that makes the difference is because we are of Christ. When we are of Christ, the knowledge of Him diffuses through us as a fragrance. We can manifest the gospel through our words and testimony in every place. The second mention of the word “fragrance” is the Greek word “Euodia”. This is a reference to a sweet perfume. Before God and before men, we can be a sweet aroma that brings life to those who are being saved or we could be the aroma of death to those are perishing. The challenge for us to always seek to be that fragrance of Christ wherever we may go during this Chinese New Year and beyond. Let’s seek to diffuse His fragrance to everyone. Let’s also expect some to reject what we speak of.

Speaking The Word In The Sight Of God In Christ

“For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” 
2 Corinthians 2:17

Furthermore, as we share the word, it is never with the intent for ulterior motives. We do not “sell” the gospel in any way. What is it that would make us sufficient as an effective witness to others? It is when we share out of the godly sincerity of our heart and mind (2 Corinthians 1:12). We are to speak out of the wealth of experiences that we may have had with God. It is the Lord who gives us the sufficiency (2 Corinthians 3:5) as ministers of the New Covenant. We are to preach the gospel in the sphere of Christ. Let’s pray that the Lord will grant us opportunities to bear witness for Him. Let’s always speak the word before God with a clear conscience and from a righteous life.

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