Encourages Christians to radiate positivity, pervade their surroundings with Christ's love, and persevere in love and forbearance, embodying the pleasing aroma of Christ.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather here in His presence, just as we are, with hearts open and ready to receive the Word of God. It's a beautiful day, not because the sun is shining, but because the Son is reigning. Today, we're going to look at a passage from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 2, verses 15 to 16.
These are powerful words, aren't they? They speak of our role as Christians to be a pleasing aroma of Christ, a beacon of His love and light in a world that so desperately needs it. But they also speak of the challenge of this task, the weight of it. Who, indeed, is equal to such a task?
This reminds me of a quote from Charles Spurgeon who once said, "A good character when established is not easily overthrown." It's a simple statement, but it carries a profound truth. As Christians, our character, our aroma, is not something that can be easily overthrown or tainted by the world around us. It's something that, once established in Christ, stands firm and strong, a beacon of hope and love to those around us.
In the world we live in, it's easy to be swayed by negativity. We see it in the news, we hear it in conversations, and sometimes, we even feel it in our own hearts. But as followers of Christ, we are called to be different. We are called to be positive, to bring light into the darkness, to bring hope where there is despair. This is not just a suggestion, it's a command. It's part of our calling as Christians.
Positivity is not just about having a cheerful disposition or always seeing the glass half full. It's about having a Christ-centered perspective that sees beyond the troubles of this world and focuses on the eternal hope we have in Jesus. It's about radiating the love of Christ in our words and actions, in our attitudes and responses. It's about being a beacon of hope and joy in a world that so desperately needs it.
Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This is not a suggestion, it's a command. And it's not conditional on our circumstances. It's a command to rejoice always, in every situation, because our joy is not based on our circumstances, but on our relationship with Christ.
It's not easy to rejoice when we're facing trials, when we're dealing with pain or loss, when we're struggling with doubt or fear. But that's where faith comes in. That's where we need to lean on God, to trust in His promises, to remember His faithfulness. That's where we need to remind ourselves of the hope we have in Christ, the peace that surpasses all understanding, the joy that is our strength.
Promoting positivity in practice starts with our thoughts. Our thoughts have a powerful influence on our attitudes and actions. If we fill our minds with negative thoughts, we will inevitably radiate negativity. But if we fill our minds with the truth of God's Word, with His promises and His love, we will radiate positivity. We need to guard our minds, to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
Promoting positivity in practice also involves our words. Our words have the power to build up or tear down, to encourage or discourage, to bring life or death. We need to be mindful of our words, to speak words of life and hope, words that reflect the love of Christ. We need to use our words to bless others, to encourage them, to lift them up.
Promoting positivity in practice includes our actions. Our actions speak louder than our words. We can say all the right things, but if our actions don't match our words, we're just making noise. We need to live out our faith, to show the love of Christ in our actions, to be His hands and feet in this world.
Promoting positivity in practice requires perseverance. It's not a one-off event, it's a lifelong commitment. It's not something we do once and then forget about, it's something we need to do every day, in every situation, in every interaction. It's a constant choice, a constant effort, a constant commitment.
As we move forward, we find ourselves enveloped in the rich imagery of a perfume ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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