Sweet Smells of Seasons!

Have you smelled them yet? Have you been able to capture a fragrance of spring yet? I have on several occasions recently. Fragrant aromas flowing through the air announcing to all the purpose of the their presence. Some are beautiful to look at, others their smell captivates our senses to remind us of the arrival of spring and summer.

As I read today I was captured by the word "fragrance" in the scriptures and how God used it. Today's treasure is found in 2 Corinthians 2: 14 as the apostle Paul shares the focus of his life as he serves Christ in the midst of his daily grind! Perhaps it will bless you as it did me this morning as I was reading.

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. 2 Cor. 2:14

A few things jumped out at me this morning. First, Paul was thankful in his life. Now for most of us we fail to grasp the power of that statement. We must all realize that Paul was carrying a heavy burden. He was suffering greatly and had been suffering greatly at the hands of the lost and sadly the saved also. Throughout this letter he speaks of his personal sufferings of heart, mind and soul! And yet, HE WAS STILL THANKFUL! How did he maintain this???? Let's look further....

Our Second nugget from God's word is the he realized that God had led him there. Even though God did not cause the evils that had fallen on him, he recognized that they were God allowed. Then if they were God allowed, God had a purpose in his life as well as the lives of others. Do you pause in the midst of your struggles to see God's hand in them? If you look closely you will see HIS fingerprints all over the place!

Thirdly, Triumph was certain! God always leads in victory. So many times in the word of God what looks like utter defeat turns into absolute victory for HIS children. Paul knew victory would ultimately be his as God leads the way to victory! Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Peter, and Paul could all testify of the certainty of the triumph of God's children. No matter how dark, how uncertain, how difficult, victory is certain. How about I say 1 word........CALVARY! Enough said!!!

Lastly, Paul recognized that his world was not about ONLY him. He knew that God was not only working in his life but also to allow others (the lost) to hear and eyewitness the grace of Christ! Here he calls it "diffuses the fragrance of HIS knowledge in every place." Have you ever been somewhere when fragrant flowers were in bloom? Often times you can smell them long before you actually see them. Many times when riding our motorcycle my wife and I would smell the aroma's of flowers or honeysuckle long before we would see them. I often wonder am I the aroma of Christ to my family, my friends or the world in which I live? This was what Paul had in mind as he penned these truths. His message was one of Christ and Him alone. For others to see Christ and hear Christ from his life and lips was to allow them to smell the fragrance of His Savior!

He was able to be thankful in all of his circumstances as he grasped the glory of the work of Christ in him! God leads, HE leads in triumph, HE works through us to reveal HIS glory to those around us! Now that is the reason to be thankful. What is happening is not happening by chance or accident. God is working our HIS glorious plan, even when and especially when it includes surprises, sadness, suffering and struggle!

It is then when we need to surrender to the potters hand and see what kind of vessel HE can construct! Then and only then will we be the fragrance of Christ as HE works lovingly and deliberately in and through us. This is the season of Grace!!!

Blessings
Bruce