2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIVUK)
14 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. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life…
Today’s passage is similar to yesterday’s which looked at the parable of the yeast: in both there is the idea of God’s people permeating society with their influence. In passing, on Sunday, Simon referred to it by talking of our being the aroma or fragrance of God. There are some tensions at play here, however, which may jar with the pleasant imagery of perfume. It talks about us being ‘captives in Christ’s triumphal procession’. This uses the picture of a leader coming back from a military campaign with captive enemy soldiers in their victory train. It is an image that people at the time would have been familiar with. Scripture subverts this familiar image, though, God has won us but with love, not force; we have been rescued, not defeated. It also talks us as being an aroma that brings death – are we some sort of chemical weapon! No. God doesn’t send us out to condemn people, rather there is in some sense judgement in how people respond to the invitation God offers through us. Perhaps there’s also the hint here of us living our lives as a sacrifice for God and the fragrance associated with sacrifices in the Old Testament.
Father, may I be an attractive fragrance for you today.
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