But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7 (NiV)
I would challenge you to study this a little deeper, Paul points out that a jar of clay or an earthen vessel is fragile, breaks and can be made from common soils of the earth and to think of our life as a jar of clay.
I would like to take you on a fictional journey about a non-fictional truth.
Picture a group of people standing in a dark cave, each sporting their vase for others to see. They try to be proud of what they have. They compare it to others’ vases and maybe even talk about their battle scars with others. “Yeah, this is where I was trying to help someone and crash, my life came apart.” “This crack here… you don’t want to know.” But without Christ, the conversations between everyone there usually go to something like how the vase looks, its purpose, maybe even self-preservation. Someone says, “My vase is for holding water, so that’s what I’m gonna do with my vase.” And they go get water and put it in the vase, and the water seeps through the cracks of that vase. A mess follows. The ground around the vase is wet and muddy now. The result of what the vase can’t do is frustrating, so the person tries to fix their vase. They take mud and pack it in the cracks, but it won’t work. Now it’s just an uglier vase surrounded by a bigger mess. Others start to get different things to put in their vases. “ I want mine to hold wine!” “I want to put heavy cream in mine!” “I want to put milk in mine…help me find a cow!” Many things are thought of, but everyone has cracks and gaps, brokenness that will not allow liquid to remain in the vase as they wanted. Then Jesus appears. He was always there but quietly at the outer edge of all the group. He was listening to all the conversations and comments as they were said. He approached one who was confused by all the conversations, one who didn’t know what to do, one who saw mess after mess, but had a broken willing heart. The lad said, “Jesus, I need you”. Without a word, Jesus took a candle and lit it, and placed it in the bottom of the lad’s vase. The light began to shine right through the cracks. In amazement, others backed up and let the beautiful display of light beams shine right past them. In our brokenness and what may seem to be a disaster of a life, God can take it and shine the presence of His Gospel light out to others who need to see it. We need to be reminded and know that it is entirely His work through us!
“Here seems to be an allusion to the lamps which Gideon’s soldiers carried in earthen pitchers, Jdg. 7:16. The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are weak and frail creatures, and subject to like passions and infirmities as other men; they are mortal, and soon broken in pieces. And God has so ordered it that the weaker the vessels are the stronger his power may appear to be, that the treasure itself should be valued the more. Note, There is an excellency of power in the gospel of Christ, to enlighten the mind, to convince the conscience, to convert the soul, and to rejoice the heart; but all this power is from God the author, and not from men, who are but instruments, so that God in all things must be glorified.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)
Jesus is the treasure. The Holy Spirit lives within us if we are saved. Jesus can use us no matter the condition of our lives. And that reveals His power through us.
If we don’t feel that Jesus is using our life for His glory, then what needs to happen is we must turn the focus of our heart from what we see around us (the mud, the lost water, the destruction), including ourselves (the fragile jar of clay), to focus on Jesus. Let Him do His work through us. Remember Peter sinking into the water?
For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:11-12)
Lord, what do I do with my jar? I think the Lord is saying, “Let me show My Life through it.”
—Brian Rainey
*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.