4 Ways to Have the Aroma of Christ
~ Today’s Scripture art and mini Bible study were designed to give you the steps to take to develop the aroma of Christ. ~
*This post may contain affiliate links. To learn more, click here.
It’s quite descriptive, don’t you think?
2 Corinthians 2:15a (NLT): Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
This verse paints a beautiful picture.
And it begs the question …
Is my life a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God?
Since I want it to be, that desire took me on a mini Bible study to find out more about this aroma of Christ.
What exactly does it take to qualify as having a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God?
Let’s start with the verse right before today’s verse where Paul explains who “our” is.
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT): But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
The people Paul referenced with a Christ-like fragrance were …
#1 – Living surrendered – as God’s captive
#2 – Led by Christ
#3 – Spreading the knowledge of Christ everywhere
Do I do those things?
My first thought … I could do better.
But then God prompted me to read that verse again. (And again.)
Here, look again for yourself …
2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT): But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
Do you see it too?
And there I was thinking I could do better.
It reminded me of …
Philippians 2:13 (ESV): For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Perhaps #1 (above) is the key to the fragrance: live surrendered to God – so He can work in me.
John 3:30 (ESV): He must increase, but I must decrease.
So often I want to skip to the chase and be instantly mature in my walk with Christ, but God seems to prefer a process.
A life-long process. Aka a life-long decrease.
A life-long Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
What makes me think so?
Check out the parallel verse for today’s verse …
Ephesians 5:2 (ESV): And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
That word walk? It’s Strong’s G4043 and it means “to make one’s way; to progress; to live; to regulate one’s life; to conduct one’s self.”
To progress – I like that one.
I think God does too. (Proverbs 4:18)
To walk, to live, to progress – they all denote a continual movement.
Which brings us to another attribute of a person with a Christ-like fragrance.
#4 – Walking in love as Christ loved
Side note: Read more about How to Walk in Love
As Christ loved!
How does the verse say that Christ loved us?
He gave Himself up for us. He sacrificed Himself to God – for us.
Should we do the same for Him?
Wow. Sit with that question for a minute.
If we’re aiming to be a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God, yes.
Giving ourselves up for Him circles us back to #1.
Live surrendered to God.
And if we concentrate on #1, then #2, #3, and #4 will surely follow – as we progress.
Now let’s get practical. What can we do to concentrate on #1?
What does it look like to surrender to God?
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
A living sacrifice?
Yep. He gave Himself for us. Now with grateful hearts, we give ourselves back to Him.
Think of it this way: instead of doing what we want to do, with grateful hearts we gladly do what He wants us to do.
Two questions come to mind.
What if we don’t want to?
and
How do we know what He wants us to do?
The very next verse answers both …
Romans 12:2 (ESV): Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Renew your mind.
See? That answers both questions.
But how? (Our favorite question today!)
Colossians 3:2 (ESV): Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Where can we find things that are above?
You got it!
The Bible. His Word.
We can learn everything we need to know about surrendering to Him in His Word. It’s all over those pages.
The Bible will guide us right to where we want to be – right to what we’ve been hunting today – a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
So hop to it!
(P.S. Did you catch all the Easter references today?)
Open His Word, write it on your heart, and smell the sweet aroma of Christ.
*My prayer for you is … that this blog will inspire you to open your Bible every single day to seek God’s face and write His Word on your heart – because HE’S the key to lasting heart change!
Have a comment? I would love to hear it HERE and HERE.
I link up with these blogger friends:
Maree Dee at #Grace&TruthLinkUp
Deb at #FaithNFriendsLinkUp
Create With Joy at #InspireMeMonday
Rachel at #DestinationInspiration
Sue at Let’s Have Coffee Link Up
Kelly at #BVNetworkParty
Meg at #TeaAndWordTuesday
You might also enjoy these …
Read > Do I Give a Convincing Performance?
Check Out > My Personal Bible Study Method
Want a FREE SAMPLE of our Fear Not 365 Scripture Writing Plan?
Shop > Our Scripture Writing Journals!
Shop today’s Scripture Art here in My Shop.
Did you know?
I like to email original Scripture Art to my Insiders!
Yep – I email a new printable once a month so it can be used in these 20 Clever ways!
Join the fun by subscribing below …