Signature Fragrance

Paul helps us understand God's work in us through the metaphors of letter and fragrance.
     

                                                                                                                                        

Letter writing takes cooperation of mind, pen and paper. When Christ writes on our cooperative hearts, the resulting letter reflects God's character -- life-giving and fragrant.

Interestingly, Christ's fragrance on us smells like death to some, but life to others. This is not surprising because Jesus warned his disciples that his servants would experience extremes of reception and rejection (see John 15:20-21).


As we become more like our Master, when, "in Christ," the Spirit writes in our hearts, the results are distinctive: death to the old, life to the new! And joy, peace, patience ... undernotes of a great fragrance.

 "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God" (2 Cor 3:4).


If we are cooperating with the Spirit's writing on our hearts, we read clearly and smell good. Christ's costly fragrance has the power to draw or turn people away. And in difficulties that crush our tender places, we find new undernotes of Christ's sweet fragrance.


So, no matter how things appear, we can have confidence that God is working and will use us to spread his Signature Fragrance.  Full co-operation with God's Spirit is critical. That's how we discard cheap imitations  and wear the real thing.


Oh! I found its name in 2 Corinthians 2:14. 



Triomphe!



FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Read 2 Corinthians 2:14 - 3:4

What is Christ's current signature fragrance in your life? Can you see that your challenges may be refining your Designer's fragrance in you?