“Thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. 2 Cor. 2:14-15
Heavenly Father, what an amazing description of the essence of the Christian life. We are to live as glad captives in Jesus’ “triumphal procession,” all the way into the new heaven and new earth. Jesus has triumphed over sin, death, evil, and us.
“Conquered” and saved by his life, cross, and resurrection, we are now smitten with Jesus’ beauty, magnificence, and love. We are no longer our own; we are his… Hallelujah! May the “sweet perfume” of the Gospel, and the life-giving aroma of Jesus be increasingly released through us, to your glory.
Father, keep us in the posture of humility, dependence, and gentleness; for that’s when we most smell like Jesus. Free us to love well—wherever we are and whomever we’re with. Jesus’ Kingdom has come, and it will come in fullness. We can risk waiting. We can live non-defensively. We can love extravagantly.
Keep us believing Jesus can change anyone, anytime, anywhere. May the Gospel be the only offensive thing about us—a stumbling stone and rock of offense to the proud, but a sanctuary of grace and eternal life to those who are being saved (Isa. 8:14; 1 Pet. 2:4-8). So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.