2 Corinthians 2

2 Corinthians 2 (NKJV)

1But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

2For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

3And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

5But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

6This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,

7so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

9For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

10Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,

13I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

15For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

16To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17For 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.

Ephesians 5:2

Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)

2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

2 Corinthians 4:10

2 Corinthians 4:10 (NKJV)

10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Scripture readings

Devotional 📖

Fragrance ‘Osmen’: odour - such an odour as is emitted by death e.g. a body that’s death, and itself causes death or such as is emitted by life and imparts life.

Everyone is an offering. Some are a worthy offering unto God and others unto Satan but everyone emits a scent. Apostle Paul is saying in these verses that the believer is a fragrance to God, diffusing his knowledge in every place. When you think of perfume, it has a distinct smell that normally lingers if the quality is good in the same way, we should be living a life so distinctly different it’s discernible to believers and unbelievers alike. Our lives should leave residue in the spaces we go to, so that when other people come, they can identify that something has changed.

The picture is that of a Roman triumph, where incense wafts through the streets. The victors smell the perfume of victory; captives heading to death inhale the same scent as a reminder of doom. The same sermon that softens one heart may harden another, yet in either case God calls it “the fragrance of Christ”. Our task is faithfulness, not the manipulation of outcomes. All in all, we should be discernible not just by others but also by God.

How do I smell like Christ?

Dying and living like Christ releases an aroma to God and to those around us which separates us from those who are perishing. It’s a victory aroma, a scent that testifies to Christ’s victory of death, sin, hell and the grave. We die so the life of Christ may be made manifest in us.

Prayer 🙏

Heavenly Father, give me the grace to die and live like Jesus so my life is a sweet and pleasing aroma to you. I want you to say you know me, not just in heaven, but I want you to be able to identify me on Earth. Precious Spirit, would you do this in me.

In Jesus Name

Amen

The fragrance of Christ

Devotional 📖

Prayer 🙏