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"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, 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. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life." (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a NKJV)
When as a teenaged girl I became a representative for Christ, I was lightly teased by non-Christian schoolmates. They thought that I was strange. I didn't fit in with the kids who didn't have or didn't want Jesus as their Saviour. When I was with them, I felt like a duck without a pond to paddle in, because we had very little in common. Soon, I matured in the Lord, and I began to understand the major reason why I didn't fit into their environment: I was a Christian.
Believers in Christ are saved from sin and are given eternal life. We worship the Father and enjoy great fellowship with our brothers and sisters, while we work together for His honour and glory. Our foundation is Christ, and as His ambassadors, we share the fragrance of His love with others. God has provided the scent of His knowledge in Christ, Who offers salvation and forgiveness of sins. Some reject Him. Some accept Him. Those who accept Christ choose a life of faith in God. Our lifestyle and words can share God's wisdom with those who don't know Christ.
People who do not choose Christ become enemies of God, because they either deny God or do not want a connection with Him. Fellowship is born from choosing Christ as our anchor. So as Christ's ambassadors, we bring the fragrance of salvation to every situation, either by our lifestyle or by sharing the sweet knowledge of God.
Our time to fully bloom for Christ, sharing His fragrance of salvation here on earth, is finite — having a beginning and an earthly end to it. We are like the flower that blooms for a limited time and shares its sweet aroma with the world. When the flower dies, it falls into the dust and is blown away. However, when the believer's season to bloom is done, our Spirit lives on in Christ. Earthly death isn't the end of our Christian story. Believers are promised eternal life in heaven with Christ. Imagine! Our story will never end.
What does this mean to us? We have a call from God to get busy and pray for chances to share the good news with others. Our Father always provides, so watch and see how many opportunities that He sends your way.
Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You for the time to bloom and share the sweet love blossoms of Christ with others. Help us always to serve You, not in our own strength and knowledge, but through Your holy power and wisdom. Amen.
Karen Milam
Penn Valley, California, USA
Republished from PresbyCan with author's permission.
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