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. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

II Corinthians 2:14-16 

What effect does the life of a follower of Christ have? In its’ best form, it  defuses the fragrance of Christ wherever the believer goes. Paul says, ‘through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.’ Paul’s journeys took him through much of the ancient world. He encountered different cultures, traditions, belief systems and practices. Many of these circumstances brought him into conflict simply because the gospel would lead people away from the customs of their culture. This was the fragrance of Christ, having effect wherever Paul preached Christ. Many would inhale the fragrance of Christ and be saved. Others would find the fragrance of Christ noxious and go to great lengths to expel it and those who proclaimed Him. Whether people accepted Christ or rejected Him, Paul and his companions had done what God had intended, brought the fragrance of Christ wherever they were. So it is for us. As we follow Christ and the Holy Spirit conforms us more to His image, we take the fragrance of Christ with us wherever we go. Thus, God uses us to diffuse His fragrance.  

Gracious God and our Savior,
we rejoice that You use us to advance Your cause.
We praise You that You
send Your fragrance our over the whole earth.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

II Corinthians 2:15-16 

What affect does our life have when we make much of Christ? Paul was convinced of the truth of the gospel. He proclaimed it far and wide. The preaching of Christ, and more than that, the imitation of Christ was his passion. He went to the ends of the earth to make Christ known by life and lip. He was cognitively aware his life was having an effect. He articulates it in our text. This fragrance of which he speaks is the way in which others encountered Christ by their contact with Paul. They could smell Christ when they were around Paul. This was because Paul spent much time in the presence of Christ. His experience of Christ gave his life the fragrance of Him. Not everyone reacted the same way to Paul’s representation of Christ. Some abhorred the smell and depart to pursue the things that end in death. Others found this fragrance delightful. Regardless of how people received it, Paul understood the importance of making much of Christ. As we spend time with Christ, we began to bear His aroma. Others will find this either acceptable or unacceptable. Either way, the important thing is for us to remain close to Him.  

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice that we have the privilege to walk with You. 
We praise you that as we do, 
Your fragrance becomes ours. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

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. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

II Corinthians 2:14-16 

What effect does the life of a follower of Christ have? In its’ best form, it  defuses the fragrance of Christ wherever the believer goes. Paul says, ‘through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.’ Paul’s journeys took him through much of the ancient world. He encountered different cultures, traditions, belief systems and practices. Many of these circumstances brought him into conflict simply because the gospel would lead people away from the customs of their culture. This was the fragrance of Christ, having effect wherever Paul preached Christ. Many would inhale the fragrance of Christ and be saved. Others would find the fragrance of Christ noxious and go to great lengths to expel it and those who proclaimed Him. Whether people accepted Christ or rejected Him, Paul and his companions had done what God had intended, brought the fragrance of Christ wherever they were. So it is for us. As we follow Christ and the Holy Spirit conforms us more to His image, we take the fragrance of Christ with us wherever we go. Thus, God uses us to diffuse His fragrance.  

Gracious God and our Savior,
we rejoice that You use us to advance Your cause.
We praise You that You
send Your fragrance our over the whole earth.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 

II Corinthians 2:15-16 

What affect does our life have when we make much of Christ? Paul was convinced of the truth of the gospel. He proclaimed it far and wide. The preaching of Christ, and more than that, the imitation of Christ was his passion. He went to the ends of the earth to make Christ known by life and lip. He was cognitively aware his life was having an effect. He articulates it in our text. This fragrance of which he speaks is the way in which others encountered Christ by their contact with Paul. They could smell Christ when they were around Paul. This was because Paul spent much time in the presence of Christ. His experience of Christ gave his life the fragrance of Him. Not everyone reacted the same way to Paul’s representation of Christ. Some abhorred the smell and depart to pursue the things that end in death. Others found this fragrance delightful. Regardless of how people received it, Paul understood the importance of making much of Christ. As we spend time with Christ, we began to bear His aroma. Others will find this either acceptable or unacceptable. Either way, the important thing is for us to remain close to Him.  

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice that we have the privilege to walk with You. 
We praise you that as we do, 
Your fragrance becomes ours. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning