(Fourth of a four-part series on Thanksgiving)



In any kind of competition, it's important and even necessary that your team captain and your coach show up for the game. As a Christian, Jesus is my Coach and my Captain. He not only tells me how to fight my spiritual battles, he stays with me and helps me through each one. I listen to him because he's the only one who has ever died on a cross for my sins.

He's also the only one who has ever been raised from a tomb for me. And he's the only one who has ever offered me hope of eternal life in heaven. No one else has ever done those things for me. You talk about leading a battle, God through Jesus leads us in spiritual warfare like none other. And that's the battle that really counts.

What makes that even more impressive is that Jesus knows and understands our struggles because he has already been tempted in every way (ref: Hebrews 4:14-16). Because of this, the Bible says Christians can have confidence to approach God for help in our times of trouble.

In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, the apostle Paul says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life …”

Did you catch the seventh word in that verse? “Always” is a very big word, especially in this context. It's saying that we “always” have victory when God is the one leading us. You can't take the name “Christ” out of the word “Christian” anymore than you can take Christ out of the Christian. Understand? You see, when we allow God to lead us, we are guaranteed to cross the finish line with a victory. Why? Because when we put on Christ, we are partnered with God just like Jesus is partnered with God (ref: John 14:20-21).

In fact, Paul says we are the aroma of Christ. We smell good to believers, and really bad to non-believers. He's saying that those who refuse to be led by God do not accept Christ or his fragrance of life. And therefore, they find themselves walking down the path of destruction towards death. It's up to Christians to partner with God in helping others to view Christianity as a fragrance and not an odor.

So, what are you thankful for today? May God bless you with many opportunities to lead others to Christ, as God leads us into paths of righteousness, love, joy, and peace.

Reach Barrett Vanlandingham at Fort Gibson Church of Christ, 478-2222 or ftgcoc_barrett@sbcglobal.net.