The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 2:14-16, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”

Have you ever thought of the Gospel as having an aroma, an odor, a smell? Probably not; but it does! Paul says in the verses above that when we witness to others of the saving life of Jesus Christ, we are a sweet fragrance of Christ. That fragrance is primarily detected by God Himself, but it affects the lives of all of those whom we meet and with whom we speak.

Nobody likes an aroma that stinks! I once knew someone who needed something to mask the putrid, breath-taking aroma that the body put forth in abundance. This person was a believer in Jesus; and everything I knew about that one was spiritually acceptable. It was the physical that needed attention! Even Paul thanked the Philippians for the “fragrant aroma,” calling it “an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18).

Think about what Paul says in our verses above: God (the Father) manifests a sweet, delightful aroma through us, as we spread the knowledge of Christ among those that do not know Him. In fact, he says that “we are a fragrance of Christ to God.” How is that possible? People who work with animals on a daily basis, often smell like those animals.

People quite naturally absorb whatever odors they absorb on a daily basis. So, if we live with the LORD daily and absorb His Word, we will reek with the sweetness we have absorbed from being in His presence!

Think about this: When we carry with us the Divine Odor of the LORD, the acceptance we receive even from unbelievers, demonstrates their awareness that we possess something they do not possess. Yet, it is something they desire. That gives us the opportunity to share our faith in Jesus Christ, praying that they will come to faith in Him, also.

Still, “who is adequate (sufficient, worthy) of these things?” Those who work in the midst of foul odors and absorb them, need to bathe and free themselves. Those of us who live daily in the presence of Jesus Christ, are already spiritually clean. What is the odor of your life? Do others see and know that you have been with Christ? Or do you need to spiritually bathe because you have strayed from Him and His Word? Think about it and do what is necessary to bring Glory to the LORD! The LORD loves a sweet smell.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”