People of Light
Jars of Clay
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:7
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
A mystery of walking with the Lord is that we have this glorious Light shining in our lives, yet we still have so many weaknesses. Our Key Verse for today calls these weaknesses “like fragile clay jars”.
The reason for this mystery is to make clear to everyone that the great power that comes from having God’s Light is from God and not from ourselves. Christ-followers need to stop fighting these weaknesses and embrace them as God’s plan.
This does not mean we stop trying to be our best for God, but it does mean we always have weaknesses that we can work on. We never rid ourselves of all our weaknesses in this life. The challenge is to live a balanced life trying to do our best but still resting in the fact that God uses our weaknesses to remind us and all those around us that it is His power in our lives.
As someone said many years ago, God has intended us to live and glorify Him in our “cracked” jars of clay!
In 2 Corinthians 4:9-15 of our Scripture Reading for today, the Apostle Paul reminds all believers that even though we have God’s wonderful Light in us, we still face many trials and problems. However, when we realize that God never wastes one minute of our lives, turning all circumstances into something good for us and His Kingdom, then we can say with the Apostle:
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)
The Apostle Paul had a great perspective on his troubles, a perspective that all of us can do our best to imitate:
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17)
Remember what Jesus said He would do once He got back to Heaven. He was going to prepare a place for us when we leave this earth (John 14:2). If Jesus prepares something, we know that He will do it well, even beyond our imaginations.
Yes, Jesus promises us a place for eternity that far outweighs the troubles we put up with in this life. Our joy in this life must not be dependent on a trouble-free life; that is not going to happen.
Our joy must depend on faith that God weaves our troubles into a great plan for our lives and that it will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Let’s fix our gaze on our future and not on the things that trouble us now!
Father, I need reminding, while going through troubles, that You are working all things out for my good and Your glory. Jesus, thank You for preparing my eternal home that far outshines all my present problems. It is in Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.