What a wonderful night with Bella! Tonight, we had our ‘Daddy and Daughter’ date where I planned the date and dinner and treated her with all the respect and courtesy, she should expect from any man that gets the privilege to date her. Opening car doors (in and out), walking on the side of danger, taking care of all of the details, ordering for her, buttering her bread, pulling out her chair, guy pays for everything (can’t believe this needs to be taught, but it does), and much more. We even discussed table etiquette and manners; even the waitress helped by correcting when Bella said “sure” when asked if she wanted another sparkling water…”It’s ‘Yes, Thank you’ Bella” :-). It was truly a magical evening with her.
14 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. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 [ESV]
Wow! There is so much here to unpack! Let’s just go verse by verse. [Psst – this will likely bleed over into tomorrow’s…just too much to be covered in one sitting]
“Thanks be to God, Who IN CHRIST ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession.”
Verse 14a
Picture that -> God in His Son Jesus leads us on parade together in victorious celebration. People lining the streets…those saved and those not.
…and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Verse 14b
We become the Sowers of the fragrance of the gospel as it is spread…everywhere.
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. Who is sufficient for these things?
Verses 15 & 16
So, keeping this vision in your mind of God In Jesus leading us in this parade where the aroma of the gospel and glee on our faces are seen by the parade watchers of whom are those who have been saved and those who are perishing. Those who are saved smell a sweet scent conjuring thoughts of gladness and hope in the coming day where we will reign with God forever in Eternity. Those who are perishing smell and see it too but their thoughts are of denial, hatred, and guile at the spectacle that goes against what it means to be their own god and see getting the most out of this life as the ultimate prize.
Application:
Not so much an application as a realignment to what it means to be a child of the Most High. My life should constantly be reflective of the spectacle I define above. There will be those who reject Jesus, but the way God sees my impact and testimony of Him is the same sweet aroma that fills His throne room whether that impact and testimony fall on open eyes/ears or closed eyes/ears. My obedience and serving Him are what are important; not the success metrics of conversions I have been a part of. Obviously desiring to be a part of growing God’s Kingdom is righteous, but I am not defined by my earthly bean counting in this area. Simply striving to glorify God in all that I do, never being ashamed to share the Gospel of His Son and staying obedient to God’s Word are all that matters. In fact, most of our experience in staying true to these 3 listed things will be more suffering than smooth sailing…so, our victory is secured through our suffering.