神是香气的来源
「你最近有耶稣的气味吗？」这个奇怪的问题，可以令我们深深思考一下活得像耶稣是怎样一回事。
从某些方面来说，看起来像耶稣，就是仿效祂的行动，是一件容易做到的事。我们可以喂饱饥饿的人，送东西给有需要的人。我们可以给口渴的人一杯凉水，当受到委屈时去饶恕。这些正直和善良的行为都是所有信徒应该努力去实践的。
但气味像耶稣是甚么意思呢？这其实不是指一种真实的气味或香气。这是指从你心灵的深处所彰显出来的 ― 神的爱和耶稣的品格，以致其他人会像当日与耶稣同行那样，作出同样的反应。
如果我们按照神的呼召去代表耶稣，对那些寻求神，对祂抱开放态度的人来说，我们便会像「活的香气」；而对拒绝神，不想和祂有任何关系的人来说，我们就像「死的香气」。当然，我们不想人拒绝神，希望借着展示祂的爱，我们可以帮助人看到神是良善的，祂希望永远与人同活。但始终有些人会拒绝，这是最令神痛心的事，因为神是他们的创造者。
像基督一样，我们被呼召去传扬神是爱的好消息，而神就是这个爱的好消息的来源，就像神赐我们一种气味那样，表明我们代表神，就像耶稣代表祂一样。
祷告
父啊，求祢借着我们去传扬祢的爱和恩典，让每一个人都知道祢是谁，以及祢是多么爱他们。阿们。
哥林多后书 2:14-17
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。
God, the Scent Supplier
“We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” - 2 Corinthians 2:15
“Have you smelled like Jesus lately?” This odd question can help us to think hard about living like Jesus did.
In some ways it can be easy to look like Jesus—that is, to imitate his actions. We can feed the hungry and give things to people who need them. We can offer a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty, and we can forgive when we are wronged. These are righteous and good actions that all believers should aim to practice.
But what does it mean to smell like Jesus? Well, it’s not actually about having a smell or aroma. It’s about showing the love of God and the character of Jesus from deep within your heart and soul, and this leads others to respond in a way like people did when Jesus lived among them. If we represent Jesus as God calls us to, we are like “an aroma that brings life” to people who are seeking God and open to his leading, and we are like “an aroma that brings death” to people who reject God and want nothing to do with him. Of course, we don’t want people to reject God. We hope that showing his love will help people see that God is good and wants to live with them forever. But some people still refuse, and that hurts God the most, for he is their Creator.
Like Christ, we are called to spread the good news of God’s love, and God is the one who supplies that in us—like giving us a smell or aroma that shows we are representing him, as Jesus himself did.
Father, spread your love and grace through us to show everyone who you are and how much you love them. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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