DAILY DEVOTION No. 30

                           SWEET FRAGRANCE IN CLAY POTS                                      

2 Corinthians 2:14  "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"

The Apostle Paul pictures Christ at the head of a victory procession and we are following Him in

triumphant celebration as the universal conqueror. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Paul

had in mind the Roman triumph. The picture is the triumphal entry of a military hero into the city 

of Rome. In a triumph procession, the victorious generals marched in a certain order through the 

streets of Rome to the capitol.

First came the city magistrates, and state officials, followed by the roman senate, and then the

trumpeters. These were followed by soldiers who carried their spoils from the conquered land.

Then the captive rulers, their leaders and captured generals in chains who would be executed

before the day was over at the sacrifice. Following them came the musicians and priests swinging

their censers with a sweet-smelling incense burning in them. To the conquered victims  - incense

had the stench of death. To the victorious army - incense had the sweet aroma of victory.  

Finally, the conquering general rode in a chariot drawn by four white horses. His family and his 

army followed wearing their decorations and shouting 'Lo triumphe! Lo triumphe!'

Authentic Christianity is following the leader – not doing our own thing. Christ is the universal conqueror marching in triumph down through the corridors of time. He is in the lead, and we, His chosen warriors march behind Him enjoying the benefits of His conquest.

2 Corinthians 2:14 (b) “And manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." When there is authentic Christianity - those who love the Lord Jesus emit a lovely aroma. As we march along in the procession of Christ we are emitting everywhere about us the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him. That distinctive sweet smell is the Spirit of God bearing His fruit in the lives of believers. When we have been around Christ we begin to smell like Him. Christ has an unmistakable fragrance, and you can smell it on someone who is genuinely Christ-like. It is a rich bouquet of the fruit of the Spirit. Authentic Christianity is always emitting a fragrance that is pleasing to God. 

Carnal Christianity on the other hand always has the smell of death about it. It stinks in the nostrils of God and doesn’t draw the non-believer to Christ but turns them away.

What Causes Us To Emit A Bad Odour To Those Around Us?:

i) Little Or No Integrity - No number of titles, degrees, offices, designations, awards, licenses, or other credentials can substitute for basic honest integrity.

ii) Worldly Thinking And Behaviour - the problem here is no separation. The world can’t see that we are any different to them. We must learn to crucify the deeds of the flesh.

iii) Selfish Living - We can choose to live a life of love, and give ourselves to others as a sacrifice to God, or to live a selfish life. The thing that will win this world is the love of Christ shining through us. We must model our lives after Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 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?" With sincerity, we are to preach Christ, and to those who are being saved it is the smell of life now and of eternal life. It has the sweet fragrance of victory. Each one of us could say we aren’t adequate for such a ministry! None of us are capable in our own strength. Our adequacy comes from our abiding in Christ. However, for those who reject Jesus Christ, it is an aroma of death because judgment is at hand. 

Challenge  

How are your motives and attitude in the service of the Lord? Do you have a pure heart? Are you full of His fragrance? How beautiful is the flask? (2 Corinthians 4:7-18).  God has chosen to put the treasure of this precious fragrance in clay pots, not in the fine china of man's making. V7. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves" The treasure is valuable and expensive. It comes from God. God's valuable treasure is contained in weak, fragile, and valueless containers. God doesn't use beautiful flasks to house His fragrance. He has chosen to put the treasure of His fragrance in clay pots. He takes simple clay pots and fills them with His glory. Fragile and flawed, cracked and leaky clay pots are His choice vessels - so He alone can get the glory. Will you be a vessel that emits the beautiful fragrance of His presence?

Prayer

Father, help me to give out the beautiful fragrance of Your Son, Jesus, wherever I go. Let me so present you that people will straight away know that I have been with Jesus.