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God Smell

One more this week from my sermon on Sunday. 

This is when we smell like Jesus.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? ~2 Corinthians 2:14‐16

Yes, Paul, who, other than Christians, are up for causing a real stink? When you look around and wonder, what’s that smell, the best first place to look is Christians and the Church.

That smell is us, the odor of God. For any of you theater-types…We are God-smell.

Later in 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote;

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, “made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. ~2 Corinthians 4:5‐6
We see here we are given the light. Much like John the Baptist professed, we aren't the light ourselves. We’re reflectors. We look like God. First we smell like God, now we look like God. And to the Colossians, Paul wrote;
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. ~Colossians 2:1‐4
Notice what Paul does not say…

I want you to know that I am doing the least amount possible for you, and for everyone I haven’t taken the time to meet. My pipe-dream is that you might feel sort of better, so you may have some sort of an idea, in order that you may guess what God is all about, having something to do with Jesus.

Paul doesn't say that. He is working hard. He is contending, doing spiritual battle. He is praying for peace and unity, so that we can have full riches. Do you want a piece of God? No, I want the whole thing! I want to know God. I want to know Jesus. I want to know the Spirit. 

It’s by knowing God that we find the sorts of treasures that are worth selling everything else for.
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