We are to GOD, the Aroma of Christ!

Devotion 9: Need Prayer? Click the forum by the home tab & let us know so we can pray for you! 🤍

Brethren, Do you enjoy having a BBQ with family and friends?

Personally, I LOVE the aroma of grilling over a charcoal fire.

And because I do, the mention of a “fire of coals” from John 21 that catches my immediate attention.

Consider this experience that the disciples had with The RISEN LORD.

John 21:2-19 reveals their experience like this: “Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of HIS disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, JESUS stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was JESUS. Then JESUS said to them, "Children, have you any food?"They answered HIM, "No." And HE said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom JESUS LOVED said to Peter, "It is The LORD!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was The LORD, he put on his outer garment [for he had removed it], and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat [for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits], dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. JESUS said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. JESUS said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask HIM, "Who are YOU?"- knowing that it was The LORD. JESUS then came and took the Bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

This is now the third time JESUS showed HIMSELF to the disciples after HE was raised from the dead.

So when they had eaten breakfast, JESUS said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE ME more than these?"

He said to HIM, "Yes, LORD; YOU know that I LOVE YOU." HE said to him, "Feed MY lambs." HE said to him a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE ME?" He said to HIM, "Yes, LORD; YOU know that I LOVE YOU." HE said to him, "Tend MY sheep." HE said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE ME?" And he said to HIM, "LORD, YOU know all things; YOU know that I LOVE YOU." JESUS said to him, "Feed MY sheep.”

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This HE spoke, signifying by what death he would Glorify GOD. And when HE had spoken this HE said to him, "Follow ME."

Brethren, When I read this passage of SCRIPTURE, I find myself wondering why John would include this detail in the story about The LORD calling a "failing" Peter back to serve and follow HIM. Especially since in verses 1-3, it’s obvious that Peter had reopened his fishing business. Just a few days before, John 17-18 tells us that Peter was warming his hands over a charcoal fire when he denied The LORD to save his own skin.

So why just not go back to fishing? While Peter and his companions were casting nets, The LORD built a fire on the beach.

Coincidence?

No!

A GOD incident.

And as Peter approached The LORD, I wonder if the smell of the burning charcoal brought back memories of that other fire where he had warmed his hands, but terribly failed by denying CHRIST.

Yet The LORD in HIS MERCY took the initiative to call Peter back into HIS service.

With that said, Have you ever failed The LORD?

Think of it.

Even as The LORD forgave Peter and his failures and was willing to call him back into HIS service.

HE is also willing to forgive anyone of us if we will just humble ourselves and repent of our wrongdoings.

For 1st John 9-10 gives us this consoling WORD saying: “If we confess our sins, HE is FAITHFUL and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make HIM a liar and HIS WORD is not in us.”

Right!

If we say that we have not fallen short of The GLORY of GOD, we make GOD a liar and the TRUTH is not in us.

We all fall short Beloved, and we all need to come clean and repent. The GOOD NEWS is that GOD is willing to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to restore us back into fellowship. For Galatians 5:13 assures us that we have been called to liberty. Only we are not to use that liberty as an occasion to sin willfully. Consider how it reads: “For you Brethren, have been called to liberty, only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through LOVE serve one another.” So don't feel to bad for your shortcomings.

After all, if only "perfect people” qualified to serve The LORD, HE wouldn’t have anyone to choose from.

Maybe now we can understand why The LORD spoke these WORDS from Luke 5:32, “I have not come to call the RIGHTEOUS, but sinners, to repentance."

And Beloved, that means WE each qualify for service. Because Romans 3:10 assures us, saying: “As it is written: There is none RIGHTEOUS, no, not one."

And even Romans 3:23 reminds us saying, “But even so, " because we Believe GOD, and receive The TRUTH of HIS WORD.”

2 Corinthians 2:15-17 has this to say about each of us:

“For we are to GOD the aroma of CHRIST among those who are being SAVED and among those who are perishing.

To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of LIFE leading to LIFE.

And who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not, as so many, peddling The WORD of GOD; but as of sincerity, but as from GOD, we speak in The SIGHT of GOD in CHRIST.”

Let us serve him with all our hearts! ♥️

ONLY JESUS OK

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