2 Corinthians 2:14a says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ…”
This is quotable.
This verse has been a go-to verse for me in times of challenge and distress. God causes me to triumph. However, I must remember that God leads me to victory, not in my flesh, nor in my selfish ambition, but only in Christ. Because we trust Him as savior, we are in Him and He is in us.” . (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Colossians 1:27.)
Often I’m looking for my own selfish success and confuse this eternal promise for a temporary desire. The word ‘triumph’ here means ‘to wail or to clamor’ + ‘to attach oneself to,” and “procession’. The picture in my mind of this triumph is a parade of declaration and celebration.
I have an opportunity to join in a parade of rejoicing and exaltation in Jesus. I’d say, “Count me in!”
But it’s the second half of this verse that I had overlooked:
“God… manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
Hold up. Am I allowing God to release His sweet aroma through me? Or do I carry the fragrance of preoccupation, insensitivity, complacency, vanity, or self-indulgence?
To join in the parade of celebration with these stinky scents is like marching with a band while wearing a clown costume in place of a uniform. It doesn’t belong.
I must remind myself to lay aside the old self and be renewed in the spirit of my mind. (Ephesians 4:22). This allows me the exchange of my carnal self for the new creation of me. Holy Spirit helps me to do this through the Word of God and He works it in me from the inside out. It is in this posture in Christ that He causes me to triumph.
Unite with me in allowing Him to purify us of the foul odors of self and drench us in the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him. May we be carriers of this sweet fragrance everywhere we go, that we might draw others straight to His transforming presence. And then let’s join the chorus in a joyous victory parade in celebrating Jesus in us!
I leave you with the following scriptures:
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB1995
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB1995
“to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 NASB1995
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,” Ephesians 4:22 NASB1995
Penny Renfroe is a Pastoral Care Pastor at OneChurch in Whitesboro and Best Selling Author of ‘Threads of the Father.’