One morning while Stan and I were together at the Twelve Baskets Cafe for breakfast and conversation about our faith, he said, “I was talking last night with a neighbor about being a moving fragrance.”
“A moving fragrance,” I said. “I’m not sure what that means.”
“It comes from something the apostle Paul wrote,” Stan replied, “about being the fragrance of Christ.”
“Oh,” I replied, “I kind of remember that, but what’s it have to do with moving?”
“Paul wrote that we are a fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
“So?”
“Maybe,” Stan responded with a smile, “by actually being such a fragrance of Christ, some of those who are in the perishing group will be attracted by that fragrance and will move to the group of those who are being saved. It will be a moving fragrance!”
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Bible verses to consider:
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16.
Prayer: Than you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t manifest the fragrance of Christ, but something with a much less pleasing aroma. Please forgive that foolishness and help me manifest the aroma of Christ to everyone so some who are perishing may change and be saved. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Can you manifest the sweet aroma of Christ because you’ve accepted the life He came to give, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with manifesting the sweet aroma of Christ? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why Orr why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to have and manifest the sweet aroma of Christ? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?