2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
Writing the letter. Paul could not rest. He went to Troas hoping to meet Titus on his way back from Corinth with news of the church's reaction. Not finding him there, he crossed the Aegean Sea to Macedonia. The reason for the thanksgiving of verses 14-17 becomes clear in the chapter. In Macedonia, he met Titus and the news from Corinth was good.
Why?
Preaching the gospel is like spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Jesus everywhere. This Aroma brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
The Gospel is to live it out in my behavior and not only speak it. With love and the power of Christ, it is the life-like aroma, like salt and light to shine on this world.
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保羅在特羅雅傳福音很有果效，但是一直沒有遇見提多，因為他請提多送信給哥林多教會的情形還不知道，保羅掛念哥林多教會情形，所以去馬其頓見提多。因為哥林多教會是他建立的教會，不能因為傳福音，卻不能教會出問題。雖然可以並存，但是教會如果沒有顧好，不是好見證，甚至比外面更可怕，這樣誰敢信主。前方打仗，後方也要堅固好。後方教會成為傳福音很大的幫助。傳福音的同時，教會也要復興、堅固。香氣是同一種，但是不同的人聞起來感覺不一樣。得勝者會抹香氣，但是打敗仗的戰俘一方也可以聞到，卻是讓他不喜悅的。我們在散播這樣的香氣，耶穌基督的香氣，對相信的人來講是叫他們活的香氣，如果對不願意悔改的人而言，引起更大的反彈、風波，使他們死，這樣子誰擔當的起。保羅傳福音是要叫人蒙福，卻不是要討好人，靠福音得利益。哥林多教會有人反對保羅，質疑保羅，否認他是使徒。保羅仍然願意傳講神的福音。保羅怕哥林多教會把香氣當成死的香氣，不高興，從士兵變成戰俘。願成為使人活的香氣。
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How?
May my life could be like aroma being a good servant of the Lord to bring good news to others.
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