Scripture Focus
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” — 2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
Devotional Thought
When I was a teenager, there was a language fad that passed through, as fads often do. It became popular to refer to someone as a “loser” whenever they did something foolish, embarrassed themselves, or simply weren’t considered as cool as everyone else. We even had a hand gesture to go along with it. We’d hold our thumb and index finger in the shape of an “L” against our foreheads to make sure everyone understood the insult. Years later, Jim Carrey helped popularize the expression even further through his portrayal of Ace Ventura. And although the fad has largely passed, the word itself has remained part of our everyday vocabulary.
Unfortunately, the world still likes to label people as winners and losers, and followers of Jesus Christ often find themselves on the wrong side of that distinction, at least according to the world’s standards. Christians are sometimes portrayed as ignorant, foolish, or unwilling to accept science and facts. Our faith is dismissed as believing in fairy tales, and when we attempt to share the message of the Gospel, there are those who would prefer that we simply remain silent. To them, believing in Jesus Christ is not a sign of wisdom but of foolishness.
Of course, none of this should surprise us. Paul addressed this very issue in his first letter to the Corinthians when he wrote, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV). The world has never been particularly impressed with the message of the cross. In fact, what the world considers foolish is the very means by which God has accomplished our salvation.
But here in 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul reminds us of something wonderful. In the ultimate spiritual sense, there are no losers among those who belong to Jesus Christ. Instead, Paul describes believers as participants in a triumphal procession, a victory parade led by Christ Himself.
The imagery Paul uses would have been familiar to his original readers. In the Roman world, a victorious military commander might return to his city at the head of a grand procession, celebrating a great military victory. The streets would be filled with the sights and sounds of celebration, and fragrant incense would often accompany the procession. Everyone watching would know that a great victory had been won.
Paul takes that familiar image and applies it to our relationship with Jesus Christ. But there is an important distinction we must not overlook. We are not celebrating a victory we have achieved through our own strength or accomplishments. We are participating in the victory that Christ has already won. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has conquered sin and death. And because we belong to Him, we share in His triumph.
Think about what that means for the way we live our lives. If you are walking by faith, seeking to honor Christ in your daily decisions, and living in such a way that others can see His influence in your life, you are part of that triumphal procession. Even when the world mocks your faith, questions your convictions, or considers you foolish for following Jesus, you are marching in the victory parade of the King of kings. You may not receive the applause of the world, but you belong to the One who has already won the battle.
And notice something else Paul says in this verse. God uses us to spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” What a beautiful picture of the influence a believer can have on the people around them!
I think about this whenever I walk into our house and my wife has been baking something. Sometimes I can smell it before I even reach the kitchen. I don’t have to ask whether she’s been baking. The fragrance has already announced it. Whatever she’s been preparing has filled the house with an unmistakable aroma.
Paul says that our relationship with Jesus Christ ought to have a similar effect on the people around us. As we walk with Him, His presence in our lives becomes evident. Our words, our attitudes, our choices, and the way we treat other people should communicate something about the Savior we serve. We don’t have to announce our faith with every conversation for others to recognize that we belong to Jesus. The fragrance of Christ should be evident in the way we live.
But Paul goes on to explain in the following verses that not everyone responds to that fragrance in the same way. To those who are being saved, it is the fragrance of life. To those who are perishing, it is the fragrance of death. The same Gospel that brings hope and life to those who receive it also confronts those who reject it with the reality of their spiritual condition.
Perhaps this helps explain why Christians sometimes receive such negative reactions from the world around us. When we faithfully live according to God’s Word, our lives can become an uncomfortable reminder that there is a standard of truth and righteousness beyond what the world has chosen for itself. We may seem like strangers in a world that doesn’t understand our convictions. Some may even treat us as though we’re looking for trouble when, in reality, we’re simply seeking to share the life and hope we’ve found in Jesus Christ.
Of course, we should never confuse being offensive with being faithful. Our goal is not to make people uncomfortable, win arguments, or prove ourselves superior to anyone else. We should be gracious, humble, compassionate, and loving in our relationships with others. But even when we demonstrate those qualities, the message of the cross will still be offensive to some. We cannot change that by compromising the truth of the Gospel.
And perhaps that’s the greatest encouragement in Paul’s words. Our place in Christ’s triumphal procession does not depend upon the world’s approval. We don’t have to be popular, influential, wealthy, or successful by earthly standards. We simply need to belong to Jesus Christ and faithfully follow Him wherever He leads.
So, the next time someone treats your faith as foolishness or makes you feel like a loser because you follow Jesus, remember whose victory parade you’re marching in. The world may not recognize the significance of your faith, but that doesn’t change the reality of what Christ has accomplished.
No losers here. Only winners in Christ. And the victory belongs entirely to Him!
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever felt embarrassed, rejected, or looked down upon because of your faith in Jesus Christ? How does Paul’s description of Christ’s triumphal procession change your perspective on those experiences?
- When people spend time around you, what kind of “fragrance” do they encounter? Do your words, attitudes, and actions reflect the presence of Jesus Christ in your life?
- Are there areas of your life where you’ve been more concerned about gaining the world’s approval than faithfully following Christ? What would it look like to live more confidently in His victory?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the victory we have through Jesus Christ. Thank You that our standing before You is not determined by the opinions of the world, but by the finished work of our Savior. Forgive us when we allow the criticism or rejection of others to discourage us from faithfully following You. Help us to remember that we belong to Christ and that His victory is our hope. May our lives spread the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus wherever we go. Let our words be gracious, our actions be loving, and our witness be faithful, even when the world does not understand. And may we never seek glory for ourselves, but always point others to the One who has won the victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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