2 Corinthians 2: Eww Eww that smell, can't you smell that smell?

I LOVE PAUL! He was so blunt and practical in his teaching. And this chapter is no different. Let's spoil this chapter by starting with the end. 17 "You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us." (NLT) (this is called a theological foundation- it's where a solid truth is established to build an entire point). Did you see that key word? WE. Who's gonna preach? (Dora style) WE! Who? WE! Foundation: You are called to preach, we all are. Not from a podium. Not in a church. Not as a Pastor. We are all called to preach the Gospel, throughout our lives, with our lives. God has a plan to bring the good news to the world and it hinges on you. We are all full time ministers. Speaking the gospel through a prayer at lunch time. Worship music in your office. A bible open on break. Through using those God given key moments in your life to love someone, anyone, everyone, enough to tell them about eternity. To tell them the answer. To point them to Jesus. The hard question: If you truly live and love and believe in the God of the Bible; how can you not tell others?

Perfume. Don't you just love it. My wife walks in and her perfume fills the room. It subtly chases out the other smells and refreshes everything. And it stays after she is gone. It's there. I can walk in and know she was there. Paul likens this kind of lifestyle preaching to a perfume. It drowns out the other voices and foolishness of the world that exalts itself against God. It brings a freshness to others lives. It up lifts. And it lingers in their life. When your ministry is effective. When we really get in the presence of God and carry that with us. We bring His love and peace into the room with us. It literally changes the dynamic of our homes, dorms, classes, offices. Just like light drowns out darkness. Gods love on us acts like a perfume and drowns out everything else.

Don't be a fragrance of doom to the world. Don't be the "christian" the represents everything but Christ. Don't be the statistic and give them a reason to doubt the whole "religion thing." Be Christlike. Be the difference. Let the fragrance of your life be the perfume of God's love that ministers to all those you encounter. Don't live so that they remember you. Live so that they can know Him.

Grace & Peace
D.