Messiah and Crushed Flowers
Thursday, February 3, 2022
A Banquet For Savages
Naturally made perfumes are from crushing flowers. A definition of forgiveness is the smell of a flower when it is stepped upon; crushed. We are to manifest the fragrance of Messiah, the fragrance of grace, mercy, and forgiveness, sweet righteousness, and love. It's the smell of a flower when it's stepped on. When you prepare a banquet for those who hurt you, when you bless them, that's the fragrance of Messiah. When you are sinned against, instead of cursing them, bless them. When your pride is stepped upon, and your reputation and feelings are stepped upon, instead of anger, hurt, or paying back, of being depressed, you die to self and give them the love of God in return. That's the fragrance of Messiah. Messiah was crushed, but in that crushing, He forgave them. From that crushing comes our redemption, the sweet fragrance of Messiah. You do the same. What comes out of your life when you are pressed, stepped on, or crushed, that's what you are. So be beautiful as He is beautiful and manifest the sweet fragrance of Messiah. Forgiveness is the smell a flower makes when it's stepped on.

Today's Mission
Surprise those who hurt you or wronged you by doing the opposite of what they expect, bless them and forgive them. Show God's love is greater and stronger.

2 Corinthians 2:15
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
An Open Door
When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it. But when I didn’t find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn’t relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you. And I got it, thank God!

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.

Have a blessed day and weekend.