unbridledsubmission.com

There are very few smells better to me than freshly brewed coffee in the morning. And for me, that would be freshly brewed, bold, Starbucks coffee.

There is something about starting my day in a coffee shop, around those great smells that I really enjoy and that has become a daily routine.

However, I recently entered into my routine, got excited at the smell of my fresh bold coffee, sat down, expectantly tasted my first sip, and spit it out. It was horrible. Tasted like sour acid on my tongue.

Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians 2-3.  Verse 14 and 15a stuck out to me in light of this experience.

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. For we are the aroma of Christ…

Made me think about my faith and example.

• Do I leave a good aroma of Christ to others. Does Christ smell good if you will?
• Do I “smell” good enough to encourage people to taste and see? Or just average and not “different” than anything else?
• Does their experience with me leave a bad taste in their mouths?
• Did my actions, the the reality of spending time with me, meet the expectation of the aroma they first encountered?

As I found out, something can smell very good and still taste very bad.

You smelling good today?  (Oh, I really dislike the Starbucks RED coffee and love every other bold. Starbucks, I still really like you.   )

I’m creating a new category on my blog for my initial thoughts after reading a passage of Scripture. These probably won’t be overly theological, or academic, but will be quick, off the cuff thoughts about how my heart was stirred, at that specific time, by what God’s word spoke to me, and what i was convicted and reminded of.

So, every day I try and read 1-4 chapters of the bible.  Today I was reading through 1 Corinthians 11-13.

I’m actually working through a new bible and marking it up as I go along. I was frustrated at the thought of the process of changing bibles, as I love my old bible, but yet it’s interesting to see what I highlight differently. I also switched to the ESV version, so I do have to read every word, because it’s different. I would actually recommend everyone to re-read the bible in a version you have not read before. Maybe a mid year resolution for you.

In a nutshell, Paul addresses everything from head coverings, to the Lord’s supper, to spiritual gifts and then the love in chapter 13.

Today it was 1 Corinthians 12: 31b that stuck out.  …“And I will still show you a more excellent way.” The Way of Love. (Chapter tile of ch. 13)

Why did Paul have to address this? Because the Corinthians were a special bunch. Selfish, indulgent, jealous, loved the “showy” gifts, wanted to be recognized above others, etc, etc.  What stuck out to me is the fact that all of us, me included could have fit in nicely with that bunch. At least on some days, right? Perhaps you are better than I?

Today, I will make an extra attempt to choose the more excellent way, the way of love. Which is of course the Jesus way.

Two quick verse that popped into my head while reading this today was:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

and

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28)

I pray that today you and I would love (serve) in a greater degree than we did yesterday.