The Fragrance of Life
| I’ll never forget 07/07/07. Thousands of gathered at Centennial Park in Nashville, TN to march through downtown in a silent prayer walk of repentance to start “The Call”. A river of some 50,000 people flowed 2.7 miles down Church Street to the Titan’s football stadium for 12 hours of praise, worship, and prayer for revival. My wife and daughter heard what sounded to them like a river of water flowing through downtown Nashville as thousands walked in prayer and repentance. I wondered if the thousands of people walking side-by-side in the hot humid sun would generate big time body odor. I was pleasantly surprised as a sweet fragrance wafted through the air. |
I was reminded of what the Apostle Paul described, “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphant procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume . . . and who is adequate for this?” (II Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT)
Is the life-giving fragrance of Christ upon you? Here are three things to meditate on and pray for concerning the fragrance of life. First – pray for BROKENESS. Consider the alabaster box of perfume (Luke 7:37); a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 34:18). Suffering with Christ releases His fragrance. (II Corinthians 4:5-11) Second – BEAR the fragrance of Christ wherever you go. Those in despair and darkness need the fragrance of life. (II Corinthians 4:1-7; Psalm 133) Third – the BREATH of the Holy Spirit in you spreads Christ’s fragrance everywhere bringing freedom and life. (II Corinthians 3:16-18)
Lord, make us the fragrance of life wherever we go.
by: Cliff Sanders