But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
No matter how much money we spend on cosmetics, healthcare or how many miles we run on the treadmill, our mortal human bodies revolt. We get weaker physically as we grow older no matter what we do. We are wasting away day by day. It is a fact of life. But we are also weak spiritually without the treasure of Christ in us. We are all broken, both physically and spiritually. The treasure of Christ in us gives us the power to overcome.
We have this treasure in jars of clay… to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
A clay jar is not very sturdy, even though it appears to be. If it falls over it is broken. As humans, we try to do things in our own power, fall down and shatter into what feels like a million pieces. I fall when I am trying to do anything in my own power. God doesn’t want us to come in our strength. He wants us to come to him in our weakness. We are chosen and desired by Him even in our weakness. Our weakness is represented by the jar of clay, a very ordinary, fragile, and commonplace thing. The treasure we have? The hope of knowing Jesus Christ. We are these fragile broken vessels with the treasure of Christ inside. Though we are weak on the outside, the treasure of Christ in us is our strength. Only by the power of Christ in me do I have the strength to hold it together day by day. He shines through all my cracks and broken places and gives strength. The cycle is complete -He is the potter, we are the clay which me made into clay jars, and the potter always treasures his creation. He treasures us, and He is the treasure inside of our broken vessels.
A clay jar is not very sturdy, even though it appears to be. If it falls over it is broken. As humans, we try to do things in our own power, fall down and shatter into what feels like a million pieces. I fall when I am trying to do anything in my own power. God doesn’t want us to come in our strength. He wants us to come to him in our weakness. We are chosen and desired by Him even in our weakness. Our weakness is represented by the jar of clay, a very ordinary, fragile, and commonplace thing. The treasure we have? The hope of knowing Jesus Christ. We are these fragile broken vessels with the treasure of Christ inside. Though we are weak on the outside, the treasure of Christ in us is our strength. Only by the power of Christ in me do I have the strength to hold it together day by day. He shines through all my cracks and broken places and gives strength. The cycle is complete -He is the potter, we are the clay which me made into clay jars, and the potter always treasures his creation. He treasures us, and He is the treasure inside of our broken vessels.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
It will happen at some point. No one gets through this life unscathed without blisters and scars to show for the journey. So, as the saying goes, it is not if, but when. You will be broken, and it will be tough but the power of Jesus in us helps us to endure. Christ in us – in the broken vessels that we are – is our treasure, our strength, our hope. Hope can never be found in our circumstances, because our circumstances are sometimes awful, and they change. They are not consistent. There are ups and downs in our lives. Our hope is found in our identity, which is Christ in us.
Cracks and broken places can be beautiful things that allow God’s light, love and gospel to shine through us to the rest of the world. Yes, we are wasting away on the outside day by day, but we are getting better day by day on the inside.
Scripture to Claim:
Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?1 John 5:5
