Thursday Devo
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 2
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
Commentary:
2:14 thanks be to God. A characteristic thanksgiving formula that, like 1:3, sets the tone and introduces the themes to come (see 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 8:16). leads us in triumphal procession. Most interpreters see this as a reference to the lavish victory parades celebrated in Rome after great battles. God is depicted as the sovereign victor, with Christ as the general, leading the victory procession, and Paul as “captured” by Christ but now joyfully following him. Images of such parades are still visible in some ancient works of art, such as in the reliefs on the late-first-century Arch of Titus in Rome commemorating the emperor’s victory over Jerusalem. The picture here reflects a recurring theme throughout 2 Corinthians, namely, the contrast between the believer’s apparent (temporal) defeat and the believer’s actual (spiritual) victory (see chart). Another view is that the “triumphal procession” is an expression of Paul’s praise to God for leading him (like a prisoner in a Roman triumphal procession) into situations of suffering such as he experienced in Troas (2:12, 13). Thus through Paul’s suffering God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (see v. 15).
2:15–16a aroma … fragrance. Taken by some as a reference to the incense spread along the streets during the triumphal procession (see note on v. 14). However, the terms used here (Gk. euōdia, “fragrance, aroma”; and osmē, “aroma, odor”) are used often in the Greek OT to refer to the aroma of a sacrifice pleasing to God (e.g., Gen. 8:21; Ex. 29:25; Lev. 1:13; Num. 15:3). With Christ pictured as the primary sacrifice, Paul’s offering of his entire life to God (cf. Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15–16), including his suffering for the sake of Christ, can then be seen as an extension of Christ’s death in the world (see 2 Cor. 1:5), as the aroma of Christ to God. from death to death … from life to life. Some encounter Paul’s life and message and dislike it, leading to their own condemnation. Others are attracted by the Christlike beauty seen in Paul and his message, and they accept it, leading to their own eternal life.
2:15–16a aroma … fragrance. Taken by some as a reference to the incense spread along the streets during the triumphal procession (see note on v. 14). However, the terms used here (Gk. euōdia, “fragrance, aroma”; and osmē, “aroma, odor”) are used often in the Greek OT to refer to the aroma of a sacrifice pleasing to God (e.g., Gen. 8:21; Ex. 29:25; Lev. 1:13; Num. 15:3). With Christ pictured as the primary sacrifice, Paul’s offering of his entire life to God (cf. Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15–16), including his suffering for the sake of Christ, can then be seen as an extension of Christ’s death in the world (see 2 Cor. 1:5), as the aroma of Christ to God. from death to death … from life to life. Some encounter Paul’s life and message and dislike it, leading to their own condemnation. Others are attracted by the Christlike beauty seen in Paul and his message, and they accept it, leading to their own eternal life.
Questions:
- The first takeaway from Sunday was that we are MESSENGERS sent with a MESSAGE from God. God is a missionary God. Jesus Himself commands us to GO and teach others. The world around us is dying and going to hell, but we have the only cure! We are to spread the knowledge of Christ like a "sweet perfume." What do people smell from YOUR life? Does the way you live give off the aroma of Jesus? If not, why not?
- To some, we are the aroma of life, but to others, the aroma of death. There is no middle ground for those who are confronted with the truth of Jesus! Those who know they are sinners rejoice and believe the Gospel. But those who are self righteous revile the message AND the messenger. If your life truly is giving off the sweet perfume of the Gospel, people in your life will fall into one of those two categories. This means you need to identify each one and be intentional with those who are open to the message, and pray hard for those who reject it. Take a few minutes and make a list in your phone or journal. Which people in you life that need Jesus are open? Which are rejecting? Pray for God to lead you to next steps with each!
Prayer Topics:
- That your life would radiate Jesus like a sweet perfume.
- That God would use you to reach people you care for.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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