14 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.
Have you ever missed someone so much that when you saw them you were overwhelmed with relief? I have personally experienced this and I get to see it hundreds of times as soldiers return after a yearlong deployment to their families. The relief is palatable. You can feel it in the air. Paul has been very concerned for the welfare of Titus, his ministry companion. They have been separated for a while, and his spirit has not been at rest. He sees him again and this verse is the outcome. The picture is of a victorious army leading the parade through the streets of the city. Everyone is cheering and welcoming home their heroes. We see this triumph expressed when the soldiers get off the planes and meet up with their families for the ceremony. The cheering is deafening. The excitement is contagious. Paul felt this sense of victory because of Christ’s work. He is part of that welcome home parade, just as we are. We can be excited about what Jesus’ has done. We have every reason to shout and tell others about Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Good News of the Gospel really is great news. Sin no longer has a hold on us. We get to experience God’s presence and acceptance right here, right now. As we experience this freedom and forgiveness, others are positively affected. It is like the flowers that are strewn about during that victory parade. Everyone gets to smell the celebration. The same is true of the Gospel. Everyone can see what God has done. Are you celebrating the victory we have in Jesus? Are you part of that parade?
The Arnold Journey 