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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Friday, January , 25 . 2 Cor. 2 : 17 .
was a willing and a glad captive, as are all those whom God conquers and leads in His triumph. So Paul returned thanks to God for thus leading him from place to place in His triumphal procession. When God conquers He conquers every thought and purpose arid brings it into glad submission to His will (cf. ch. 10:5; Ps. 110:3).. Paul and all others who had been con-, quered o f God were not only like the cap tives in a great general’s procession, but were also like the incense burned before Him, filling the air with its fragrance. Through them was the fragrance o f the knowledge o f Christ made manifest. This fragrance arose in honor to God from those whom He had saved. Not only so, but both in those who were' being saved and those who were perishing Paul became a sweet savor of Christ; i.e., the knowl edge o f Christ came to both classes through him. The one class, accepted that knowl edge and it saved them. The other class rejected that knowledge and it destroyed them. But in both cases it was true knowl edge of Christ and it was fragrant to God no matter what man did with it. Our preaching may save men or it may damn men, but if it is true to Christ it is sweetest fragrance to God, no matter what men may do with it, and whether they in consequence o f what they do with it are saved or per ish. In the latter case, where they perish, it is a fragrance “out of death (Christ’s death) unto death (i. e., it results in their death).’’ In the former case, the case o f those who accept it and are saved it is a fragrance “out of life (Christ’s life) unto life (i.e., it results in their life).” It is a tremendous' responsibility to fill a posi tion-where one is to be a fragrance of Cljrist unto life or unto death. ( Well might Paul ask, “Who is sufficient for these things?” Paul answers this question further on (ch. 3 :5). Thursday, January 24 . 2 Cor. 2 : 15 , 16 .
Recognizing the awful responsibility that rested upon him to diffuse aright this fra grance o f the knowledge o f Christ, Paul was careful not to adulterate the Word o f God in order to make gain for himself by this adulteration. Even in Paul’s day “the many” (R. V .) did .adulterate the Word of God. This is certainly true o f many today, and one inclines to think it is true, o f "the many,” i.e., the majority. How many there, are who hesitate to give the W ord o f God in its full strength lest they offend some body, lose somebody’s favor, and perhaps decrease their remuneration for the preach ing o f the Word. But Paul spoke “as . in sincerity,” “as o f God,” “ iri the sight of God.” Let us see to it that in all our speak ing we speak “as o f sincertiy,” “as o f God,”: “ in the sight o f God,” i.e., with a conscious ness o f His presence, and that He hears, every word we say. And let us also be; sure that we speak “ in Christ.” Saturday, January 26 . 2 Cor. 3 : 1 , 2 . Paul anticipates some hostile member of, the church in Corinth saying, “ Then Paul is commending himself again.” “ No,” says Paul, “ I am not commending myself (cf. ch. 5:12), neither do I need letters of com mendation from others to you or from, you to others.” Why did Paul not need letters o f commendation either to or from the Corinthians? The Corinthian saints were themselves Paul’s letter o f commendation: they were the visible and conclusive proof that he was a minister o f God (cf. 1 Cor. .9:2; 1 :4-7). The best letter o f commenda tion any minister can have is those who have been brought into a real knowledge o f God and into a life o f grace through his ministry (Matt. 7:15-20). Paul speaks o f this epistle which the Corinthian saints were, as being written in his heart. The epistle which the Corinthian believers were was “known and read o f all men.” 'I t has been well'said, “ There is no sermon so' pow erful to the world, as a consistent Christian life. Christian lives are the only religious books the world reads.”
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