Tag Archives: Thanks be to God

Aroma Of Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 - Aroma Of Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 – Aroma Of Christ – Growing As Disciples

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV)

Fragrance

What do you smell like? Of all the questions you could have asked me; I would have never predicted that question. Why are you asking me that question? What do you mean by asking me that question? What kind of answer are you looking for from me? I have no idea of how to begin to answer that question. I will help you out by asking you more questions? That would be great. Is there a pleasing aroma to your life? Are others drawn to the kind of life you are living? Is there anything about you that stands out in an attractive way? Are others inquisitive about you, because they see something good and positive and right in you? Now, I am beginning to understand your questions. Let me hear some of your answers. Before I came to know you as my Savior and Lord I am sure that my life did not smell good. How so? My life had a selfish, self-centered, self-reliant, and self-absorbed sinful odor to it. I did not stand out as dramatically different from anyone else in the world. I lived for myself. I sought my own comfort and pleasure. I consumed things and used people. I went where I wanted. I did what I wanted. Everything about my life revolved around me. I was the center of my own universe. There was certainly nothing about my life that was pleasing to you or appealing to others. I’m sad to say that I was not the least bit troubled by the selfish and sinful odor of my life. My life stunk and I did not even know it. That’s not good.

What has changed about you? Everything has changed about me. You have changed me. You are changing me. You are making me to be a completely new and different person. You are changing me from the inside out. My heart and mind and life are different because of you. My thoughts and words and deeds are different because of you. Why is that? You are now my Savior and Lord. You have broken the power of sin over my life. You are now leading me in victory. How so? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to do what is pleasing to you. What is pleasing to me? You want me to love others just as you have loved me. How does your life now smell? I hope and believe that my life is a pleasing aroma to you and an appealing fragrance to others. I can confidently say this only because you are living your life in and through me. You are making me to be a pleasing aroma and appealing fragrance in the world so that others will be drawn to you. That is my prayer. That is my hope. That is what I believe you are doing in and through me as you lead me in your victory. Yes, I have. Yes, I am. Yes, I will.

Lord, before I came to know you as my Savior and Lord my life smelled of evil and carnal worldliness. I lived a selfish and sinful life. Nothing about my life was pleasing to you or appealing to others. Use my life now to spread the fragrance of you everywhere. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Gratitude – 2 Corinthians 2-14-16 – Aroma Of Christ – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

The Victory

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Gratitude - 1 Corinthians 15:57 - The Victory - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Gratitude – 1 Corinthians 15:57 – The Victory – Growing As Disciples

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

Victory

What does the victory that I have secured for you look like in your daily life? That is quite a thought provoking question. That’s exactly what I want to hear, your thoughts. Everything thing about my life has been changed since you are my Savior and Lord. How so? I no longer fear death. I am looking forward to the day that I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Every day I keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. How are you doing that? I am drawing near to you. I am listening carefully to you. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. It is my pleasure and joy to do what is pleasing to you. That’s good.

Your victory is both here and now and not just there and then. What do you mean by that? You haven’t just given me victory over death and eternal life in the future. That is quite an amazing gift for which I will always be grateful and can never give you enough thanks and praise. But, you have also given me victory over sin and temptation and evil in this life. You have made me able to live my life with and for you now. You have broken the power of sin over my life right now. So, in a sense, my eternal life with you has already begun. Yes, it has. The eternal life I have with you guides the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and deeds of my life as I love, follow and serve you. That is very good.

I have also realized something about time. What’s that? I do and don’t have forever. Explain that. I have come to understand that my time on this earth is very brief. I am like a visitor passing through this short life. I have a very limited time in which I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You have given me this life to live. You have purposes and plans for me to accomplish. You have work for me to do for you. Yes, I do. My life should have some urgency about it. So, I am asking you to help me to number my days. By that, I mean I want to know how to best use all the gifts, talents, abilities and resources you have given to me. I want to be steadfast and immovable in the work that you have given me to do for you. One day, from eternity, I want to be able to look back with you over my life and know that it was well used in your service. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for securing victory over sin and death for me. I know my eternal future in heaven with you is being kept and guarded by your power. Help me to live each day with my heart and mind and life focused on you and the life you have given me to live. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Gratitude – 1 Corinthians 15-57 – The Victory – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com