“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 (RSV)
This is a two-fold, promise-packed scripture verse. Jesus leads us in triumph andspreads His fragrance through us, everywhere we go.
Both good and bad scents speak louder than words. No words are needed since our sense of smell tells us whether we want to pause and find where an incredibly beauty aroma is coming from, or escape as fast as we can from a very bad smell. A bad scent quickly drives people away, but a pleasant aroma triggers the urge to pause, wonder and search for the source.
It’s interesting to ponder what this scripture might mean to be the ones who are spreading the aroma of Christ. It means that, without words, we are inspiring others to pause from their regular routines and search for the source of a pleasant aroma, which is Christ Jesus.
There is a place for the right words spoken at the right moment, but the fragrance of Christ transcends any words. An aroma needs no words because our sense of smell allows the fragrance to speak to us.
When I was not yet a believer and was ignorant of everything about the Christian faith, I worked part time at a department store, during my first year of college. There were two ladies in the advertising department where I worked, who I knew were practicing Christians. They both had unusually kind, peaceful and gentle demeanors. They occasionally mentioned their church but never preached or spoke about Christ to me. For whatever reason, they never spoke about their faith, they left their fragrance with me, which was a subtle but good impression.
Not long after working there, the Holy Spirit took hold of my heart and my search led me to a decision to place Christ in the center of my life. Somehow, their fragrance caused me to search for the source of all peace, which I found in Jesus. Many years have passed since then, and now I’m on the other side, hoping to be a fragrance of Christ to others, as they were to me.
Words are always welcome, but His fragrance transcends all words, since it’s the aroma that inspires a search for the source all peace, love and joy. The Lord wants to spread His fragrance through all of us, while Jesus continually leads us in paths of triumph and victory through Christ.
Lord, continue to lead us in triumph each day as we spread the beautiful fragrance of you, wherever we go. Amen
