But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14–17, ESV
When we walk in God’s Word, we are never defeated. We may look as such when there are those who will withhold temporary comfort, but in Christ, we know that the Gospel is eternal and is never to be sold. There are churches that will sell a cheap version of the gospel in order to ease a troubled spirit, but in reality, it is no gospel at all but a word that leads to nothing but death. I remember early in my career as a pastor, a man called who was visiting for a time in the area where I was pastoring. He was looking for a church locally and noticed some things I had on the website that he found problematic. If I were just to remove it, his promise was a significant amount of financial support for the church. When I questioned the reasoning for his issue with the things on the website, he backed away from his ask and hung up the phone. The temptation was there, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is never for sale. As Paul says of the Church, “We are not peddlers of God’s word,” but we are proclaimers of His truth. We are not meant to move from place to place preaching and teaching with a hat out to collect money but are to stand firm in the Word that lives may be brought to know the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. The message isn’t supposed to ease itching ears and fill bellies but to bring people the message and hope of Jesus Christ that rings eternal. We are given by God a calling, which is our vocation, and within that calling, we are to proclaim our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and do all things to His glory. Don’t be a peddler of God’s Word, but be a bearer of His truth in the world.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.