26 lines
4.1 KiB
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26 lines
4.1 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">April 26</div></div>
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<h2>A Fragrance of Christ to Every Person</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>Now thanks be to God who…through us <b>diffuses</b> the <b>fragrance</b> of His <b>knowledge</b> in <b>every place</b>. For we are to God the <b>fragrance of Christ</b> among those who are being <b>saved</b> and among those who are <b>perishing</b>. To the <b>one</b> we are the <b>aroma</b> of <b>death to death</b>, and to the <b>other</b> the <b>aroma</b> of <b>life to life</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',2,'14-16');">2 Corinthians 2:14-16</a>)</div>
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<p>The <b>fragrance of Christ is</b> one of the great <b>characteristics</b> that God wants to build into our lives by His grace. <i>"Now thanks be to God who… through us <b>diffuses</b> the <b>fragrance</b> of His <b>knowledge</b>."</i> This spiritual aroma, which results from getting to know the Lord, blesses the heart of God. <i>"For we are <b>to God</b> the <b>fragrance of Christ</b>."</i> The Father loves to see the life of His Son being expressed in and through our humanity, even though this requires our dying to self. <i>"For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that <b>the life of Jesus</b> also may be <b>manifested in our mortal flesh</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',4,11);">2 Corinthians 4:11</a>).</p>
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<p>As we are getting to know the Lord more and more, our God is not the only one who is impacted. This spiritual aroma of Christ impacts <b>every</b> person we meet. <i>"God…through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge <b>in every place</b>."</i> This includes both the saved and the unsaved. <i>"For we are to <b>God</b> the fragrance of Christ among those who are being <b>saved</b> and among those who are <b>perishing</b>."</i></p>
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<p>This fragrance affects those who know the Lord: <i>"the fragrance of Christ…<b>among those who are being saved</b>."</i> For those who are enjoying life in Christ, that heavenly scent in our lives is <i>"the <b>aroma</b> of <b>life to life</b>."</i> Christ's fragrance in us draws them to seek abundant measures of that life which they have already entered.</p>
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<p>This spiritual scent also influences those who do not yet know our Lord: <i>"the fragrance of Christ…<b>among those who are perishing</b>."</i> To them it is <i>"the <b>aroma</b> of <b>death to death</b>."</i> They are dead in their sins, and this aroma makes them more aware of their deadness, more aware of their need for Christ.</p>
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<p>When this fragrance is emanating from our lives, we are not the cause. <b>God</b> is the active agent, working in and through us to bring forth this heavenly scent. <i>"Now thanks be to <b>God</b> who…<b>through us diffuses</b> the <b>fragrance</b> of His <b>knowledge</b>."</i> This work of God's grace is available to us every day we live and every place we go: <i>"the fragrance of His knowledge <b>in every place</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Father God, I long to know You more and more. I want to have this fragrance of Christ emanating up to You and out to every one I meet. I praise You that this is a work You do by Your grace. So, I humbly bow, trusting You to work in me this way, through Christ, my Lord, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0425.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0427.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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