And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. (2 Corinthians 2:14 MSG)
We saw in the preceding series what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Both analogies emphasise our roles as ambassadors of Christ.
So, what does it mean to be God’s perfume?
Apostle Paul’s illustration of a triumphant victory parade was part of the culture of their time. Then, whenever a warrior conquers a territory in battle, the Commander will have a victory procession through the city. During these processions, someone would carry a jar of incense, shaking it continuously to make the fragrance spread through. The fragrance was symbolic of the Conqueror’s majesty and dominion.
We are in the victory parade with Christ and through us God brings the knowledge of Christ to the world. This time, no one needs to carry the incense for the Conqueror, we are the incense; the fragrance of His glory. As we pass through the city, we let out His exquisite perfume; declaring His majesty, victory, conquest and dominion.
God wants us as Christians to live the supernatural life….always putting the devil where he belongs. In the next verses, the Bible says that the same fragrance holds different meanings to different people. To those who are partakers of the victory procession, it symbolizes life while for the enemies of the Lord, it represents death.
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 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? (2 Corin. 15-16 NKJV)
We are salt and light but when we also become His fragrance, we exercise our authority!
Prayer Point
Lord please help me to live in the consciousness of my identity as an express expression of Your dominion and majesty.
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