We are the fragrance of Christ rising to God. But this aroma is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
Reflecting on the line from 2 Corinthians 2:15, I consider the central idea pointed to by the user: me. The gospel is not an abstract experience; it is a presence that transforms my life, my breathing, my actions and interactions. The aroma that emanates from Christ does not depend only on words, but on a surrendered life, shaped by the grace that reached me and calls me from the inside out. When I say “I,” I recognize that every choice, every attitude, every opportunity to serve, is an offering that rises to God as a pleasant perfume or as a failure that still reveals my flesh. The grace that reached me does not exempt me from the need for holiness, but calls me to walk in faithfulness, trusting that God’s power is perfected in my weakness.
In the ministry of reconciliation described by Paul, the “I” is not exalted, but broken before the cross. If all that I am can be used to demonstrate the Christ who dwells in me, then every interaction becomes an opportunity to experience love, patience, and truth. The aroma of Christ points to a person who does not live for themselves, but who breathes by faith in Jesus, seeking to obey the command to love God above all things and neighbor as oneself. May I remain dependent on the Spirit, so that my way of speaking and acting is always the continuation of the Gospel in my home, at work, and in the community.
Closing with encouragement, I know that the battle for the correct aroma is daily: choosing humility when tempted to seek recognition, choosing mercy when confronted by fear, choosing prayer when anxiety tries to take over. May the Lord strengthen my faith so that, even when others do not understand what I see in Christ, I continue to breathe the peace that surpasses all understanding. May I flourish in faithfulness, remembering that my being will render greater glory to God by the power of His Spirit, and that, by remaining firm in Christ, I will be used so that many may feel the perfume of salvation and the truth that changes life.