Scripture

But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It’s like a fragrance that fills the air.

Observation

Paul’s mission is to be Christ’s spokesman. He encourages the believers, but his passion is to connect with those who don’t yet know Christ, or about Him.

Paul broadens his statements to include all believers - we are God’s means for making it clear what it means to know Christ, wherever we go. We are the aroma of Christ among both those who know Christ and those who don’t, to some a deadly fragrance, to others a life-giving fragrance.

Application

God’s plan is to use us, to use me, to make clear what it means to know Christ. Wow. Yikes, even!

But wait, it is God who is doing this! My part is to know Christ, not to know about Him or to try to be perfect. Encountering Christ changes me. Each encounter with Him will change me to be a little more like Him. I just need to make time to spend with Him, and be changed.

It is the difficult circumstances of life where God can really speed up the transformation, when He is my strength as my own fades, when He is my peace that makes no sense, when He is my joy. Then, as I trust Him, I really grow to know Him, His ever presence with me, and His faithfulness to His promises. And that makes it really clear what it means to know Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that it is not up to me to make it clear what it means to know you - You will do that. May I let your fragrance fill me and the air around me, that others would see You in me, and through me. May I not do anything to cloud the picture.

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