~ Offer Them Life ~

[Lani]

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.



“We are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NIV)




Many years ago I went to Egypt for a Christian women’s conference. One day we visited the Zabaleen area where Coptic Christians live and work sorting the garbage from the city of Cairo. The rubbish was piled high on every side; plastics in one heap, bottles in another, rubber tiers in yet another location. These piles were like small mountains, and in the middle of this area stood a tiny concrete church building.

Fires were raging as unrecyclable material was burned. Pigs were running around the church, consuming anything edible. The stench outside was horrible, but I felt warm, loving fellowship inside the church. The spiritual atmosphere was like the sweetest perfume imaginable. One little girl, obviously very poor, came up to me and broke off a piece from her loaf of bread to give me. In Arabic she said, “In the name of Christ.”

What do we bring to our encounters with the people we meet everyday? Can others see that we are Christians? Do we offer them life in the name of Christ?



Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to carry the fragrance of life to those in need today and to everyone we meet. Amen.

Prayer Focus of Day: Coptic Christians


Story shared by: P. Rantisi (England)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 3/6/12