WE ARE TO GOD THE PLEASING AROMA OF CHRIST, from 2 Corinthians 2

　


REJOICE VS GRIEF

Paul the Apostle wrote the 2^nd epistle to the Corinthians and told them his mind was made up that he would not be making another painful visit to them because he was grieving them. When he came, he did not want to be distressed by those who should have made him rejoice. He had great distress and anguish of heart with many tears for them, not wanting to grieve them, but to let them know the depth of his love for them. He desired for them to make him glad and had confidence in all of them that they would all share his joy.

Father God, we don’t want our relationship with our lost loved ones to be painful. We have great distress and anguish of heart with many tears for the ones we love deeply because they are grieved by the hearing of Your Word. We rejoice when they hear Your Word and are being encouraged, enlightened, and comforted that You love them and want for Your goodness to lead them to repentance. How we desire for them to be glad at the hearing of Your good news and share our joy!

FORGIVENESS FOR THE OFFENDER

The Apostle Paul said he was not putting it to harshly when he wrote the one that was causing grief was not only grieving the Apostle Paul but them all to some extent.

He said the punishment inflicted on the offender by the majority was sufficient, and instead, they ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he would not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. He urged them to reaffirm their love for him.

Paul the Apostle said anyone they forgave, he also forgave.

And what he had forgiven--if there was anything not forgive--

he had forgiven in the sight of Christ for their sake,

in order that Satan might not outwit them because of awareness of his schemes.

LORD, our lost loved ones cause us all grief by their behavior, and this is not putting it too harshly. But they are already going through so much pain already, “kicking against the pricks” that they don’t need more badgering from us. Only Your Spirit can help them LORD. Our lost loved ones and we depend on Your work of mercy and grace to save them from destructive behavior. They need to be born again, LORD, and that is our prayer to You for them. We want to reaffirm our love for them. We love them, but we hate their sins. We forgive them in the sight of Christ for their sake, in order that Satan’s schemes will not prevail--rather the gates of hell will not prevail against us. Praise You and thank You LORD!

　

ANOTHER REASON FOR WRITING 2^ND CORINTHIANS

Another reason Paul the Apostle wrote the Corinthians was





to see if they would stand the test
and be obedient in everything.

Father God, we thank You for Your mercy and grace that You give to us to stand the tests we go through with our lost loved ones. Regardless of how dismal the situation appears or how obstinate they are, we want for everything to be right between You and us. The Lord Jesus Christ is our righteousness and in Him we stand complete. We can confidently say we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We want to be ready for every assignment You give to us and pray the same for those whom You assign to witness to our lost loved ones.

IT’S ABOUT PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

Paul the Apostle went to Troas to PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST and found that THE LORD HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR HIM. He said he still had no peace of mind because he did not find his brother Titus there. So he said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia.

Father God we pray that You open the door to us and send laborers to preach the Gospel of Christ to the lost and our lost loved ones. May we not neglect these opportunities. Thank You for Your Word, “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.” Psalm 126:5

SPREADING THE AROMA OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST

The Apostle Paul thanked 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.

Praise God, if You be for us, LORD, who can stand against! You put us in Christ triumphal procession, using us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Your Son everywhere. Use us and others to spread this aroma of knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ among our lost loved ones.

WE ARE TO GOD THE PLEASING AROMA OF CHRIST

For

we are to God

the pleasing aroma

of Christ

among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

To the one we are the aroma that brings death,

To the other, the aroma that brings life.

We are to You LORD the pleasing aroma of Christ, and we pray it will be the aroma that brings life to our lost loved ones. Hosanna!

THE WORD OF GOD SHOULD NOT BE PEDDLED

And who is equal to such a task? “Unlike many,” Paul the Apostle said, “we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Father, lost people notice and accuse Your Word as being peddled by TV celebrities, church preachers, and such. LORD, if there is truth to this in anyone, bring it to their attention. Whichever the case, the devil is the accuser of the brethren and uses lost people especially to complain about it. On the other hand, we pray You save our lost loved ones from wolves in sheep’s clothing and those that are “peddling” Your message in dishonesty.

Save our lost loved ones despite of what others are doing, and put brethren with good testimonies in their path. May our lost loved ones behold Jesus Who wants them to hear Your message, and may they not put their eyes on man. It is Jesus who suffered, died and rose from the dead that many be saved, and not anyone else. Help our lost loved ones, and save them, LORD. We pray and thank You in Jesus name. Amen.

From 2 Corinthians 2