The Aroma of Christ

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” Isaiah‬ ‭2:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is the vision of my prayer this morning. As those who are perishing run to hide themselves from God’s wrath, we who are saved through Christ run towards him!

He sees us clothed in the righteousness of his son! He knows us by that pleasing aroma of Christ and he welcomes us into the folds of his garment!

We run to take shelter under the protection of his wings!

The Lost, see the talons of his outstretched Claws as he swoops down like an eagle of death!

But we are not involved in the judgement of the world! We plea from under his robes for mercy, and indeed we beckon one and all to run into the tower that is Christ Jesus!

The righteous wrath of God upon the rebellious and arrogant of the world is sure! Just as sure is the mercy, love and grace of his son, and so we who run to him are safe!

Read Isaiah 1 and 2! And realize that we are God’s children the ones whom he has spent our lifetime reaching!

Have you felt the pressure of his hand as a loving father that disciplines his child?

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:1-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Run into your brother’s arms, into the arms of the Lord who calls you his Friend.