Oct 09, 2014 Words of Grace – Treasures in Jars of Clay
In 2 Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, “we have this treasure in jars of clay.” The jar of clay is a metaphor for the weakness and ordinariness of our humanity. Don’t miss this. Paul is saying that God has entrusted the gospel of the glory of Christ to weak and ordinary people.
O, how we avoid our weakness. To do so we even change the meaning of the metaphor. We say jars of clay are works of art, quaint, cute, and collector’s items. But really, they were necessities of the day. They were everywhere (ordinary) and they broke easily (weak).
Don’t make the mistake of changing the meaning of the metaphor to avoid weakness. Receive the metaphor as a statement of your humanity and the weakness and ordinariness that comes with it. It is in jars of clay (ordinary, weak humans) that God has entrusted the gospel. The reason he has done so is to show his power.
Here is the mystery of God’s power. He shows it in human weakness. Did not his own Son, Jesus, become a weak and humble man to show the power of God to save us from our sins (Philippians 2:7-8)?
Your confidence is not in yourself, but in God who shows his power in your weakness. Today, as you sense your weakness, yield yourself to God. Ask for the power of his Spirit to live in and through you. Then, get on with what he has called you to do. Your weakness is not a disqualifier for doing the will of God. It is the place that God demonstrates his power so you can do his will, for his glory and your joy.
Think on these things and on 2 Corinthians 4 until we gather on Sunday.
– Scott