OUR DAILY BREAD : SIGNATURE SCENT

[cimi]

MARCH 23
TUESDAY


SIGNATURE
SCENT

READ:
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
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Through us [God]
diffuses the fragrance
of His knowledge in
every place.
__2 Corinthians 2:12
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You can't see it, hear it, or touch it, but scent is powerful. The smell of things like crayons, petunias, and colognes evoke memories that transport me to the past and bring to mind people and places I might not otherwise recall.

Some celebrities have fragrances named after them. Fans can identify with an actress or singer by dabbing on the scent bearing her name. Along those lines, Ladies Home Journal published a quiz to help readers determine the perfect fragrance for them. The idea is that every woman, to be memorable, should have a specific scent associated with her.

The idea of a signature scent is not new. God introduced it as part of worship. In the tabernacle, a certain scent was to be associated with the Lord (Ex. 30:34-35). The people were forbidden to use this fragrance for anything but worship (vv.37-38).

This idea continues under the new covenant, but with a stunning difference. Instead of using incense to make people think of Him, God uses Christians as His "signature scent" to the world (2 Cor. 2:14-15). The fact that God identifies Himself with us in such a powerful way is a truly humbling thought, and causes me to ask, "What do people think about God as a result of being around me?" __Julie Ackerman Link
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``````````````````When we've been alone with Jesus,``````````````
``````````````````There's a difference others know;```````````````
``````````````````And to them it's like a fragrance````````````````
````````````````That we leave where'er we go. __Hess````````````
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A life lived for God has a pleasing aroma.

***********Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 2: 14-17*********

14 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. 15 For we are
to God the fragrance of
Christ among those who are
being saved and among
those who are perishing.

16 To the one we are the
aroma of death leading to
death, and to the other the
aroma of life leading to life.
And who is sufficient for
these things? 17 For we are
not, as so many, peddling
the Word of God; but as of
sincerity, but as from God,
we speak in the sight of
God in Christ.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In verse 14, Paul describes the triumphal procession of a conquering
general displaying the captives in a victory parade, with the priests
offering the sweet-smelling incense to the gods. This aroma meant
victory for the conquering army and an impending death in the
arena for the prisoners. Paul had used this metaphor elsewhere
in 1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 4:8, and Colossians 2:15, depicting
Christ as the victor. In the Greek Old Testament, "aroma" (2 Cor.
29:18,25; Lev. 1:9,13; Num. 15:3). Those who share the gospel are a
"sweet aroma" that's pleasing to God. And the gospel is a message
of life for those who believe and of death for those who don't.
__SIM KAY TEE