2 Corinthians 2:12-17 Fragrance
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 16, 2020 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
(Understanding the Text) Paul has just finished speaking of forgiveness of a church member openly sinning who then repents. Now, he switches topics and speaks of his own personal travels. However, the theme is still one of worrying about the Corinthians. Paul was traveling towards Macedonia. He had previously sent Titus to the Corinthians and was expecting him to return and give a report on what was going on there. In Troas, Paul had opportunities to make new converts among the people living there and could have stayed and continued that work for a while, but since he was so anxious about having news of what was happening in Corinth, he decided to move on to another town where he was more likely to meet up with Titus sooner. He entered Macedonia and continued to preach on the way. Finally, in chapter 7, Paul says that Titus met up with him somewhere in Macedonia.
Paul says that his restless progress worked out okay because it ended up being like a triumphal procession spreading the knowledge of Jesus everywhere they passed through. Paul says that when you are in Christ, you become like a smell that spreads wherever you stand or walk. For some, it is the stench of death because they reject it, but for others it is like a beautiful fragrance that leads to life and renewal. He says believers are Christ’s representatives to people and that he doesn’t feel adequate for the task because he is not merely some traveling salesman who is trying to convince people to buy his product. Instead, he is speaking for God Himself delivering messages to the people of earth. God commissions Christians to be His voice among the people. We have to speak in sincerity, not like salesmen. Paul asks “Who is sufficient for these things?” indicating that none are worthy or adequate to speak for God, but God chooses us anyway.
(Revelation of God) “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession” I would not call this a promise exactly, more a statement of fact. This is just the way it is when we dedicate our lives to following God’s leading. That doesn’t mean we refuse to make a move until God indicates what we should do. This is not what Paul did. Paul was so anxious to meet up with Titus that he cut short what was obviously a successful evangelistic outreach in Troas so that he could fulfill the desires of his own anxious heart. However, his commitment to Jesus was still total so that even though he was following his own anxiety rather than asking the Holy Spirit where to go, God blessed his endeavors. The point isn’t to get God’s approval for any decision we make. The point is to be committed to God in everything. Then our own decisions end up being blessed, and Christ can lead us in triumphal processions.
If we live in relationship to Christ, He makes our life a Triumphal Procession. He uses us to spread the fragrance of His love to the world. Some will hate that fragrance, but for some it is life. We do not need to parade down Main Street to be part of a Triumphal Procession. Our lives can be a Triumphal Procession whether we are sitting alone inside the house, doing laundry at the laundromat, or buying groceries at the grocery store. The fragrance of Christ spreading out from us is important, not attracting big crowds to amazing words of wisdom. It is essential to remember that we are not required to produce the fragrance. It comes from Jesus. We just need to live so close to Jesus that He rubs off on us. Triumphal Processions are not about us. They are about Him.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that I am not alone in knowing that I am not worthy of my calling. I am not alone in being anxious about others and impatient to find a resolution to my worries. That is normal and good for a Christian as long as I remain totally committed to following where Jesus leads me. That commitment will allow Jesus to make my walk through life a triumphal procession. I may not preach to large crowds. I may not have tons of followers on the internet who listen to me preaching about Jesus, but my life can be a fragrance that passes through people’s lives and draws them to Jesus. My life can be a triumph that makes others want to be near Jesus. The key is to stay near to You and let You fill me and radiate out from me. I pray to spend time with You.