12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.
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?
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
Terrie's Comments:
Let me start with "hucksters"??? that is a new word that has never popped off the page before. According tho verse 17 a huckster is someone who preaches for personal profit. Remind me never to aspire to be a huckster.
It is interesting to me that our lives should be like a Christ like fragrance rising up to God, a sweet perfume, spreading the knowledge of Jesus everywhere. For those that are being saved it will be received and perceived as a life-giving perfume. BUT to those who are perishing it will seem like the smell of death and doom. (probably because it is... if they reject the truth of the gospel message they are spiritually dead)
This is a good reason to live to please God and not to please Men. Live led by the Holy Spirit so that you may make the most of every opportunity that comes across your path. God knows those who are ready to receive him and which ones will only think it stinks.
Let me start with "hucksters"??? that is a new word that has never popped off the page before. According tho verse 17 a huckster is someone who preaches for personal profit. Remind me never to aspire to be a huckster.
It is interesting to me that our lives should be like a Christ like fragrance rising up to God, a sweet perfume, spreading the knowledge of Jesus everywhere. For those that are being saved it will be received and perceived as a life-giving perfume. BUT to those who are perishing it will seem like the smell of death and doom. (probably because it is... if they reject the truth of the gospel message they are spiritually dead)
This is a good reason to live to please God and not to please Men. Live led by the Holy Spirit so that you may make the most of every opportunity that comes across your path. God knows those who are ready to receive him and which ones will only think it stinks.
Tori's Comments:
Okay, I am loving the metaphors that keep popping us in this book. Comparing Christians to a sweet perfume? LOVE IT.
And we are ALL this perfume. And stubborn nonbelievers will not like how we smell. We will be called out or persecuted for it.
But we won't care. Because the rich, invigorating scent is too beautiful to ignore, to not follow.
Okay, I am loving the metaphors that keep popping us in this book. Comparing Christians to a sweet perfume? LOVE IT.
And we are ALL this perfume. And stubborn nonbelievers will not like how we smell. We will be called out or persecuted for it.
But we won't care. Because the rich, invigorating scent is too beautiful to ignore, to not follow.
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!
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Please keep all comments respectful. We want to remember that each of us is at a different place in our walk with God. This is a place for us to share openly about what has been revealed to us as we open up Gods word and to learn from others. Please take every opportunity possible to build each other up in love :-)