Today my older friend from church calls to read a passage of scripture just for me. She reads from 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 in her 85 year-old voice that’s recovering from an illness.
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.
She reminds me that she loves me and that she doesn’t have to try to serve God at her age and in her state. She just calls people, sends them books (the one she’s picked out next for me is Tozer’s The Crucified Life), and lives out the truth of 2 Corinthians 2. God always leads us in triumphal procession. God always uses us to spread the fragrance of Christ. We don’t need to worry about this. We don’t need to try.
My friend concludes the conversation by reminding me that some people don’t understand Christ’s righteousness. “Can you believe it?” she says, astonished that people walk around not knowing Him. And then she’s off to call someone else to encourage, to mail a book to someone else, and to pray for whatever anyone needs.
There she goes, spreading the fragrance of Christ.