2 Corinthians 2:12-17

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

And after coming in Troas into the Good News of Christ and a door having been opened for me in the Lord, I have not had rest for my spirit to find Titus my brother – but after saying farewell to them I went out into Macedonia.  And thanks be to the God who always leads us to triumph in Christ and who reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him through us in every place – because we are the aroma of Christ to God in the ones who are being saved and in the ones who are being destroyed.  In one case it is a fragrance out of death into death.  In another case it is a fragrance of life into life.  And who is qualified for these things?  For we are not like the many who peddle the word of God but rather as out of a pure motive – but we speak as out of God in the presence of God in Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As Paul continues to talk about his motives, he discloses what happened at Troas.  He went, thinking that Titus would join him there when he came back from Corinth.  But Titus never came.  Paul was so worried about what was happening in Corinth that he was unable to stay in Troas in spite of the doors that were being opened in Troas.  Here is a profound truth.  Sometimes we can’t win.  We cannot be in two places at once.  Sometimes we must choose which path to follow.  It is easy to argue that Paul should have stayed in Troas to go through the doors that God opened.  And I can easily see that point.  But on the other hand, I can only imagine what Paul felt with respect to concern about Corinth.  I know what it is like to worry about the people about whom I care deeply.  Sometimes the decision about where to follow God’s leading isn’t easy.  So we do the best we can, hoping that those who are around us are willing to see how we act out of compassion the best we are able.

Have you ever been in a position that you had to choose between two opportunities for ministry?  Why are these difficult choices to make?

Second Thought:

So what does Paul do?  Paul acts, trusting that God is a God of triumph in Christ!  Paul knows that God’s powerful hand is at work in more places than just through him.  God can accomplish His will with or without us.  Our choices cannot limit God’s ability to work.  That doesn’t give us permission to do whatever we want.  But it does give us permission to make the best decision that we can make and move forward with it.  If God sets two equally good paths before us, God can work out the path we don’t choose in a different way than it would have happened through us.  And that is perfectly okay.  We don’t need to feel like we have to accomplish everything in God’s plan by ourselves.  He is way bigger than we are.  This is why Paul can ask, “Who is qualified for these things?”  The only person who can accomplish everything is God.

Have you ever felt guilty because you cannot do everything?  Why do we try to do everything anyways, even when we cannot?  How does being humble before God and acknowledging our limitations actually help us accomplish God’s will better?

Third Thought:

I love the part of this passage that speaks about the fragrant aroma.  We are a fragrant aroma to those who are being saved.  When Christians gather together, there is a common spirit.  That spirit binds us together as we draw one another closer to Christ!  But to those who reject God, we are an aroma of death.  To those who reject God, Christians are a constant reminder of what they have rejected.  Like it or not, this is reality.  If we are following Christ, we should either be reminding people about why they follow God or reminding people about why they have rejected Him.  Either way, we should be active in our faith and actively reminding people about the presence of God.

How is the fragrance of God perceived by the world around you?  How do you put your faith on display?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6