"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." (II Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)
This is a very beautiful passage of scripture, which reminds me of the heart of our Father God. His heart is to fill the entire Earth with the beautiful fragrance of His knowledge. He desires that the entire world would know who He is. And, one more thing about this scripture that is so beautiful and yet, so humbling, is that He desires to release this sweet smelling fragrance through us.
There is a world beyond the four walls of our churches, beyond our cell groups, and our Christian organizations that need to experience and encounter our God. They need to experience the God who heals, sets free and make all things new. There are many who must come to know the One who died for their sins. And He desires to reveal Himself to them through you.
As those who are followers of Jesus Christ, we can no longer be consumed and entangled with the cares of this life nor with religion and the traditions of men. Not when we have such a precious assignment. We must lay down our lives for the sake of the gospel.
I love to read about the Apostles of old. They were passionate about advancing the Kingdom of God and sharing the gospel. The Apostle Paul was one of our greatest examples. Let's look at Colossians 4:2-4.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." (Colossians 4:2-4 NIV)
Paul wrote this to the church in Colosse while imprisoned. Read his prayer request in verse 3 again. Let it really sink in. He asked the church to pray a special prayer for him and it was not for his freedom. He asked the church to pray that God would grant him more opportunities to share the glorious gospel that so consumed him.
Here he was, in prison because of the gospel that he preached. Yet, he wanted the church to pray that he he would be able to preach it even the more. Paul was so consumed with purpose that he took no thought for his own life. Even when he was behind cold prison walls. We could definitely say that his heart was broken with what breaks the heart of the Father. And, that he was determined to be one that allowed the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ to be released through his life.
To be one that releases the fragrance of Christ through our lives, there can be no stench of selfishness. No selfish ambitions or agendas. We must live Galatians 2:20 out loud.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 NIV)
We must understand that it is so much bigger than us. But, it's being a vessel that allows the power of the gospel to be released through your life. A power that transforms.
Let this transforming power have it's way in your own life first. Asking the Father to empty your heart of anything that is not like Him. Then, willingly and freely embrace your assignment. The assignment of making Him known.
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