馨香之气
复活节那天，我们教堂的讲坛上点缀着白色的百合花。对我们有些人来说，飘过圣所的香气令人神清气爽。不过还有一些人得服用一些抗过敏药才能做完礼拜。同样的香气竟然产生了截然不同的效果。
基督的跟随者有时就像那些百合花。保罗称自己和其他传扬耶稣福音的人是带着“基督馨香之气”。他头脑中有两幅画面。一幅与罗马的“凯旋队伍”有关，得胜将军带着一队骁勇的战士击败敌人。空气中弥漫着硝烟的气味——对得胜者来说，这是救赎的气味；但对溃败者来说，这是他们临近死亡的气息。
保罗心中还有一幅旧约献祭的画面，有悦人的香气升到神面前。如今，耶稣为罪所献的祭取代了那些献祭，我们这些相信耶稣的人要将自己献上“当作活祭....是神所喜悦的”（罗 12:1）。
保罗说，我们在人群中可以成为献给神的馨香之气。让人难过的是，有些人拒绝接受耶稣和祂的信息，所以福音让他们感到不愉快。但我们知道，神的灵能改变人心。所以，就让我们祷告，求神使用我们来帮助人看见祂的爱和拯救世人的渴望，好使他们识别出那“带来生命的馨香”。
父啊，帮助我们讨你的喜悦。也愿多人藉着我们被吸引到你面前。阿们。
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，并藉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。
Aroma
“We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ... “ — 2 Corinthians 2:15
White lilies adorn the pulpit area of our church on Easter Sunday. For some of us, the aroma that floats through the sanctuary is invigorating. Others, though, need a dose of antihistamines just to make it through the worship service. The same scent produces extremely different reactions.
Followers of Christ can be like those lilies. Paul refers to himself and others who spread the good news of Jesus as bringing “the aroma of Christ.” And he has two pictures in mind. One has to do with the Roman “triumphal procession,” in which a victorious general would lead a parade of conquering soldiers and defeated enemies. The smell of incense would fill the air—and for the victors, this was the smell of salvation; but for the defeated, it was the smell of their imminent death.
Paul also has in mind a picture of the Old Testament sacrifice, which raised a pleasing aroma to God. And today, because Jesus’ sacrifice for sin brought an end to those sacrifices, we who believe in Jesus offer ourselves “as a living sacrifice... pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).
Paul explains that we can be a pleasing aroma to God among all the people around us. Sadly, some people reject Jesus and his message, so the good news seems displeasing to them. But we know that the Spirit of God can change people’s hearts. So let’s pray that God will use us to help people see his love and desire to save everyone, so that they may recognize the “aroma that brings life.”
Father, help us to be pleasing to you. Grant also that many others will be drawn to you through us. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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