Thought for December 14, 2024

• 1900: Max Planck presents a theoretical derivation of his black-body radiation  law beginning the study of quantum physics
• 1901: First table tennis tournament
• 1903: Wright Brothers make first attempt with the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk
• 1911: Roald Amundsen is first to reach the South Pole
• 1916: America's first board certified doctors named following an examination at UT Medical School in Memphis
• 1947: NASCAR founded in Daytona Beach
• 1961: Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John" is first country song to get gold record
• 1981: Israel annexes the Golan Heights
• 2003: President George W Bush announces the capture of Saddam Hussein
• 2012: 28 people, including 20 children, shot at Sandy Hook Elementary School
• Born: Nostradamus, Tycho Brahe, Jimmy Dolittle, Charlie Rich, Lee Remick, Ernie Davis, Stan Smith, Bill Buckner, Kyle Shanahan
• Died: Vlad the Impaler, George Washington, George Gipp, John Harvey Kellogg, Dinah Washington, Roger Maris, Peter O'Toole, Bess Myerson

Thought:

Reading 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 today. What a powerful picture of who we are in Christ and what He intends for our lives.

Thanks be to God who:

• Leads us in HIS triumph in Christ. I like some of the old block buster movies with the pageantry of Rome. I particularly like "Ben Hur." Recall the scene where Judah Ben Hur arrives in Rome with the leader he rescued. They ride together in a chariot with a great processional, trumpets sound, crowds cheer. Or think about a ticker tape parade for the Super Bowl champs, bands, crowds cheering. Now think about this verse. In Christ, God has triumphed over satan, sin and death. Now there is a victory parade and we are being led by Christ is His triumph, He the first-fruits of those raised from the dead and we His followers. We are participants in His victory parade. I sometimes think of us as people who have been held captive in a foreign land by satan, sin and death, Jesus has freed us from captivity by His blood, and now He leads us to the Father's throne returning triumphantly from battle.
• Manifests through us the fragrance of Christ. Now, having been freed from captivity, we become the fragrance of Christ--the sweet aroma of His presence. We all have probably said, "she is a breath of fresh air." Some people enter the room and the atmosphere changes, they carry with them the aroma of Christ. Others enter and the room darkens because they carry the aroma of death. Now notice, we carry the aroma of Christ to both the saved and the dying. And for those who are being saved, it is the sweet smell of the love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, kindness, gentleness of Jesus. But some don't like our smell---they stand in opposition to who we stand for. You have seen this--you step into a conversation that may have involved lewd talk, bad language, coarse jokes and they suddenly change because you are present. 

Today, walk like victors. Paul says that we overwhelmingly conquer through every distress, persecution, peril, sword [Romans 8:37]. We march in the winning army behind the triumphant Savior. Walk as His aroma--carry the sweet presence of Jesus with you--it will encourage the faithful and convict the lost. 

Blessings

Larry