NOVEMBER 2022.
THE AROMA OF COFFEE.
Admittedly, not everyone enjoys coffee, but to those who do, there is nothing quite like the rich and pungent aroma of freshly roasted and ground coffee beans. The aroma of raw coffee beans is comparatively insignificant. The pleasing aroma of coffee results from the expertly controlled heat of the furnace and the refining process of grinding the roasted beans. A good cup of coffee is always a welcome addition on my desk as I come to prepare a sermon or devotional thought such as this. Today, as I mulled over the intense persecution faced by many in the early church, and still faced by many in the church of our day, the making of a good cup of coffee stood out to me as an illustration of life’s trials and tribulations in the light of God’s goodness. Even if it isn’t intense persecution, in this life, and indeed this very month, we will experience difficulties. Yet, through it all, we live in the great hope that God is Sovereign and is ever working all things out according to His good purposes. As is apparent from many of his letters, Paul knew this to be true. He knew the harsh reality of the trials of this life, and yet he longed for Christ to be glorified in every circumstance, even through the trials. On one occasion, in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, he explained to the church in Corinth that the “fragrance of the knowledge of Christ” is spread through Christians to all the world, “for we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” What a privilege and responsibility to be the aroma of Christ to the world! As the true aroma of coffee is exposed by the pressure of the furnace and the grinder, the aroma of our hearts is truly exposed as we undergo trials. No matter how roasted and ground down by this life we may feel this November, my hope and prayer for us all is that we may be the ever fragrant aroma of Christ to the world around us because He is truly central to our lives.
Admittedly, not everyone enjoys coffee, but to those who do, there is nothing quite like the rich and pungent aroma of freshly roasted and ground coffee beans. The aroma of raw coffee beans is comparatively insignificant. The pleasing aroma of coffee results from the expertly controlled heat of the furnace and the refining process of grinding the roasted beans. A good cup of coffee is always a welcome addition on my desk as I come to prepare a sermon or devotional thought such as this. Today, as I mulled over the intense persecution faced by many in the early church, and still faced by many in the church of our day, the making of a good cup of coffee stood out to me as an illustration of life’s trials and tribulations in the light of God’s goodness. Even if it isn’t intense persecution, in this life, and indeed this very month, we will experience difficulties. Yet, through it all, we live in the great hope that God is Sovereign and is ever working all things out according to His good purposes. As is apparent from many of his letters, Paul knew this to be true. He knew the harsh reality of the trials of this life, and yet he longed for Christ to be glorified in every circumstance, even through the trials. On one occasion, in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, he explained to the church in Corinth that the “fragrance of the knowledge of Christ” is spread through Christians to all the world, “for we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” What a privilege and responsibility to be the aroma of Christ to the world! As the true aroma of coffee is exposed by the pressure of the furnace and the grinder, the aroma of our hearts is truly exposed as we undergo trials. No matter how roasted and ground down by this life we may feel this November, my hope and prayer for us all is that we may be the ever fragrant aroma of Christ to the world around us because He is truly central to our lives.
One in Christ
Pastor Simon
