​Week 34, Day 4

​Week 34, Day 4
August 25
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2
“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. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)
For fun, tell me your ranking of best aromas between freshly cooked bacon, fresh baked bread, freshly baked cookies?
I love the smell of fresh baked bread, but the others are on my list as well. 
Let’s be honest about the church. It is often not a pleasing aroma to the world. There are times that we get it right, and times we get it wrong. Unfortunately, what often gets the attention is when we get it wrong.
It is not an appealing aroma when the church is just as corrupted as the world.
Paul here, has a grander vision for the church. We are not given over to the evil, but rather, called to love and mercy. We offer the dead (Paul here, referencing I think those who have yet to believe) and the living a pleasing aroma, drawing people to God.
The church is at its stinkiest, really festering in the gunk and mire of the world when we deviate from our call. In our quest for power, control, wealth, we’ve corrupted the mission. When we no longer address the sin in our own lives we stink. We smell worse when we condemn those outside the church and hide our sin. When sin smolders in the church, it stinks!  When we try to do more than what we are called to, we often try to control the culture around us. That control rarely works out well for the church.
 We are to be, as Rich Mullins would teach us, “arrows pointing to heaven.” We are a pleasing aroma that draws people to the love of God. WE emanate what good God is doing in us. His love in us, and shared by us, is a pleasing aroma that draws people to what is Good.
The church is to be less skunk, and much more bread, bacon and fresh baked cookies. We draw people into something that is wonderful. When they see us, hear us, interact with the church, they should know the goodness of God.
Now lets have some baked goods.
Point people to love of God today!