Thursday, 18 November 2021
Title: What Do You Smell Like?
By: Pr Mark Tan

2 Corinthians 2:12-17

In today’s reading, the Apostle Paul explained that although there was an opportunity for him to preach the Gospel, he did not stay because he feared that if he could not find Titus there, it would be wise to move on. He then went on to Macedonia, probably the city of Philippi, where he then planted the Philippian church.

As a word of encouragement, the Apostle Paul shares that it doesn’t matter where we go; as long as we go on proclaiming the Good News, we will bear God’s presence and, interestingly, aroma.

Aroma is interesting because even though invisible, it can trigger a strong reaction. The smell of something can take you back to a good memory like how the smell of mothballs reminds me of my grandmother’s house. Or a sad memory, like how the smell of a certain disinfectant reminds me of the hospital where I comforted a family who lost their child. Sometimes even the same smell can conjure up bi-polar reactions like the smell of durian or belacan.

The Apostle Paul writes that we are to God the fragrance of the Gospel. Some will sense the Gospel from us and respond to it positively, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and similarly bear the same fragrance too. At the same time, others might sense the Gospel from us and instead feel offended, never wanting to embrace it. Now is it to our credit that we presented the Gospel well to some? Is it then our fault that some disliked the “stench” of the Gospel we possess? The Apostle remind us that it is not our place to determine who reacts positively or negatively to the Gospel. Rather, we are to just focus on experiencing the Gospel ourselves and share it with others freely and sincerely.

Now, it’s one thing to share the Gospel with words, but what about the fragrance of the Gospel? Let me give an illustration:

There was once a boy in India who was told by his mother to take some ripe mangoes from their tree, take the bus for an hour to town and try selling them on the streets. From late morning till late afternoon, he shouted at the top of his lungs “Mangoes! Get your ripe, sweet mangoes here!” But to his disappointment, nobody bought even a single mango from him. Broken-hearted and discouraged, he got back on the bus and went on the journey home. On the way home, he realised he was starving since he didn’t eat anything all day. So he took a mango, peeled the skin and began eating it. The honey-sweet aroma filled the bus and seeing how the boy enjoyed the mango like it was the most delicious thing he’d ever eaten, the other passengers wanted some and began buying mangoes from the boy. He came home with an empty basket and a sticky fistful of money. The mother asked “Wow! How did you manage to sell all the mangoes?” They realised that while the boy didn’t enjoy selling the mangoes on the streets, he enjoyed eating the mango and others wanted to experience his joy and satisfaction as well.

Friends, I pray that you enjoy God’s abounding love and fragrant peace. Enjoy God’s love and grace, and while doing so, don’t be surprised if some would come and ask for what you have too.

Let’s pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for Your abounding love and grace that You have given us through Your Son, Jesus. May we never forget to enjoy Your presence and count our blessings of the privilege of having You right beside us each day. May we enjoy the warm and fragrant fellowship of Your Holy Spirit, so much so that others will want and receive what You so freely give in your Gospel. This, we ask and pray in Your Son’s precious and holy name. Amen.

班底浸信教会
每日灵粮
2021年11月18日，星期四

题目：“ 你的生命散发怎样的气味？ ”
作者： 陈燕靖传道
翻译： 黄姐妹
经文： 哥林多后书 2:12-17

12 我从前为基督的福音到了特罗亚，主也给我开了门
13 那时因为没有遇见兄弟提多，我心里不安，便辞别那里的人往马其顿去了。
14 感谢神，常率领我们在基督里夸胜，并借着我们在各处显扬那因认识基督而有的香气。
15 因为我们在神面前，无论在得救的人身上或灭亡的人身上，都有基督馨香之气。
16 在这等人，就做了死的香气叫他死；在那等人，就做了活的香气叫他活。这事谁能当得起呢？
17 我们不像那许多人，为利混乱神的道，乃是由于诚实，由于神，在神面前凭着基督讲道。

在今天的读经中，使徒保罗解释说，
虽然这是一个黄金机会，但保罗心里却感到不安，因为他没有遇见提多。哥林多教会成为他心里沉重的担子。他应留在特罗亚传基督的福音，还是继续前往马其顿？他作出了决定，要渡到马其顿去。

作为鼓励的话，使徒保罗分享说，无论我们去哪里；只要我们继续传讲福音的好消息，我们就会带着上帝的同在和基督恩典的香气。

香气很有趣，因为即使看不见，它也能引发强烈的反应。一些东西的气味可以勾起你美好的回忆，比如樟脑丸的气味让我想起我祖母的房子。或者是某种消毒剂的气味如何让我想起我在医院安慰失去孩子的家庭一段悲伤的记忆。有时，即使是相同的气味也会让人联想到两极反应，例如有人会非常喜欢或讨厌榴莲或马来香料的气味。

使徒保罗写道，我们对上帝来说是福音“恩典的香气”。有些人会从我们身上感受到福音并积极回应，承认耶稣基督为主，同样也散发着同样的香气。与此同时，其他人可能会从我们那里感受到福音，反而感到被冒犯，从而不想接受它。我们把福音很好地传给了一些人，这是我们的功劳吗？反之有些人不喜欢我们所散发的“死亡的恶臭”，这是我们的错吗？使徒提醒我们，我们不能决定谁对福音有积极或消极的反应。相反，我们只需要专注于自己经历福音的自由，​​并自由而真诚地与他人分享。

如今我们透过言语去传福音，但如何分享基督馨香之气呢？我举个例子：

从前，印度有一个男孩，他的母亲叫他从他们自家树上摘一些成熟的芒果，坐公共汽车一个小时到镇上，然后尝试在街上卖。从早上到傍晚，他大声叫卖 “芒果！成熟又香甜的芒果！”但令他大失所望的是，没有人从他那里买过一个芒果。灰心丧气的他搭公共汽车，踏上了回家的路。在回家的路上，因为一整天都没吃东西的他发现自己饿了。于是他拿起一个芒果，剥了皮，开始吃了起来。芒果香甜的香气充满了车子，其他乘客看到男孩吃芒果的样子，好像是他吃过的最好吃的东西，都想要一些，开始从男孩那里买芒果。他拿着一个空篮子和一把粘糊糊的钱带回家。妈妈问：“哇！你是怎么卖掉所有芒果的？”他们意识到，当时男孩不喜欢在街上卖芒果，但他喜欢并享受吃芒果的时候，其他人也想体验他吃芒果的快乐和满足。

朋友们，我祈求你们能享受上帝丰盛的爱和平安。当你们享受上帝的爱和恩典的同时，请不要感到惊讶，如果有人也来索要你所拥有的体验。

让我们祈祷：*
全能的上帝，我们感谢你接著爱子耶稣赐给我们丰盛的爱和恩典。愿我们永远不会忘记并带着感恩的心享受你每天的同在与祝福。愿我们享受你圣灵温暖并馨香的团契，以至于其他人会想要并接受你在福音中如此自由给予的东西。为此，我们奉您圣子宝贵的圣名祈求。阿门。