November 8, 2012
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9 New American Standard
What kind of love chooses poverty in order to make others lavishly rich in love? Who would empty themselves to the point of being seen as nothing .. not worth saving .. and not worth remembering? The gospel is Jesus exchanging his life for your life. He willingly surrendered his life so that you could know and receive the fullness of God’s forgiveness and redeeming love. And with that exchange comes the indwelling knowledge that Christ is triumphantly leading your life. We have the hardest time believing that wherever we are going, we are leaving the “aroma of Christ”. It is humbling and embarrassing at the same time. Humbling because we are so aware of our own shortcomings .. our own areas of neglect .. and our own places of poverty in our hearts. Embarrassing because we are so often aware of how poorly we treat the richness of Christ’s life within us. It is humbling to think that God is so generous to spread the aroma of Christ through your life. How can He love me so richly? How can He be so generous .. lavish .. and extravagant with His Son’s life when I’ve fallen so short time and time again? How can He invite me to join Him in this way of life? He does because Jesus spent everything for you. You were and are worth it. His triumph on the cross becomes your triumph throughout your life. Life becomes more and more “thanks be to God” as you live in the triumph of Christ. It becomes your native language. Wherever you go you leave that aroma. Where do you start? It only takes a moment …
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests though us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” 2 Cor. 2:14 New American Standard
Ken Chester: Grace-Gripped is sent M-F to Aromas of Christ in every place following Jesus. (ken@priorityone.org)
