Spreading the Sweet Stuff

 
But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. 2 Corinthians 2: 14 (NLT)

I love the way The Message paraphrases this passage, too.

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. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

For some reason this passage of scripture took me back to my elementary school cafeteria, where the scent of barbecue wieners (and know, I don’t mean grilled ones either but ones covered in some kind of weird barbecue sauce) would set off a gag reflex in me. Now for those who enjoyed that little delicacy, it was no doubt a pleasing aroma. Each of us was served the same meal but smelled something very different. Likewise with the message of Christ—to one it smells sweet yet to another it stinks.

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