What is Your Fragrance?
By George Stroh
January 31, 2022
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. And who is adequate for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:15, 16)
What is your fragrance? Not the scent of your perfume, rather that unseen, but nevertheless real, spiritual essence. The definition of essence is the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character. As Christian believers, we are to have a spiritual essence of Christ, the quality of His character that distinguishes us from unbelievers.
We are to always, consistently and boldly, manifest this spiritual essence of Christ that is pleasing to God and our spiritual service of worship. The required burnt offerings of Israel's priests were a picture of spiritual service of worship; And the priest shall offer up in smoke all of it on the altar for a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 1:9)
Our spiritual essence or aroma is pleasing to other believers with whom we share common beliefs and the fellowship of the saints (life to life). But to unbelievers, this aroma of Christ's character and His gospel truth is unpleasant because it brings conviction of sin and a reminder of coming judgment (death to death). In every situation, whether we are with believers or unbelievers, we have the awesome responsibility to manifest this spiritual essence of Christ to the glory of God.
And who is adequate for these things? The Apostle Paul wrote to the church to remind us that our adequacy as representatives of Christ, His gospel, and His character essence is from God alone; Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Maranatha!
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