A SLICE OF APOSTOLIC LIFE "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." (2 Cor 2:12-14) -- Tomorrow:
Devotion 23 of 24
" . . . by us in every place."
Other versions read "through us . . . in every place" (NKJV), "through us spreads everywhere" (NIV), and "wherever we go He uses us" (NLT).
By this Paul means that everywhere he went, he preached this glorious Gospel with favorable results. As men and women believed this Gospel, a pleasing fragrance was emitted from this world into the very throne room of God. Allow me to enumerate some of these instances – occasions during which God caused the fragrance of His knowledge to rise from areas once dominated by Satan.
1. THE ISLE OF PAPHOS. Here, although Paul met with resistance from a certain sorcerer the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus "believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord" (Acts 13:6-12). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
2. ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA. After delivering a remarkable summary of Jewish history, and exhorting the Jews to zealously avoid not believing on Jesus, the Gentiles begged Paul to preach to them the next Sabbath. Even though the Jews contradicted and blasphemed what was said, the Gentiles "were glad and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained unto eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
3. ICONIUM. In Asia Minor, Paul and Barnabas spoke in a synagogue of the Jews. Even though "unbelieving Jews" sought to poison the minds of the people, "a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed" (Acts 14:1). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
4. THESSALONICA. When Paul arrived in this city, he went into the Jewish synagogue. There, he boldly opened and alleged that "Christ must needs suffer, and risen again from the dead," affirming that the "Jesus" He preached was, in fact, that Christ. As a result, "some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few" (Acts 17:4). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
5. BEREA. When Paul and Silas came to Berea, a place in Macedonia, they went into a synagogue of the Jews. Having preached Christ unto them, "many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few" (Acts 17:12). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
6. ATHENS. In this citadel of Grecian culture and philosophy, Paul delivered a public message concerning man's accountability to God through Jesus Christ. The result: "certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them" (Acts 17:34). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
7. CORINTH. When Paul came to Corinth, he was at first opposed when he "testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ." However, upon leaving the synagogue and entering into the house of Justus, "Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). After being informed by the Lord that He had "much people" in that city, Paul remained in Corinth for "a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them" (Acts 18:11). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
8. EPHESUS. Amidst all manner of religious pretension and Satanic domination, Paul preached in this seat of Satan. On one occasion, an evil spirit taunted seven "vagabond Jews" who sought to cast him out in the name of "Jesus whom Paul preacheth." He told these Jews, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" The man "in whom the spirit was" then leaped upon the seven men, "overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." When this "was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus . . . fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver" (Acts 19:16-19). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
9. ROME. When Paul finally arrived as a prisoner in Rome, a day was appointed to him during which he was allowed to declare the Kingdom of God. Each day for two years he testified "from morning until evening." It is said of that time, "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not" (Acts 28:24). The "savor of His knowledge" perfumed the area.
I have not taken the time to mention the three thousand who believed on the day of Pentecost(Acts 2:41), or when the number of men who believed came to five thousand (Acts 4:4). Nor, indeed, have I mentioned the whole city of Samaria believing the preaching of Philip (Acts 8:12-13), or when the Ethiopian eunuch believed Philip when he preached Christ to him (Acts 8:26-39). There was the fragrance of the knowledge of God that rose from the riverside in Philippi (Acts 16:12-15). That blessed fragrance also emitted from the house of a certain Philippian jailor, who washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, "and was baptized, he and all his straightway" (Acts 16:33).
These were all things that God caused to happen. In our text, Paul affirms God "MADE manifest the savor of His knowledge" by them [Paul and company] "in every place." As the Gospel was preached, the hearts of listeners were opened by the Lord (Acts 16:14), so they could respond to the message, coming to know the Lord, having eternal life, escaping the world's corruption, etc.
When this took place, the knowledge of God became a reality in those who believed, and it was a pleasing fragrance to God. However, it was God Himself who brought it all to pass.
PRAYER: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You salvation both initiated and maintained by You and Your Christ.