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Verse By Verse Devotional by Pastor Jack on 2 Corinthians #98

February 3, 2017 | by: Jack Lash | 0 comments

Posted in: 2 Corinthians

Treasure in a Clay Pot (4:7)

4:7"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves."

This treasure (the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ) is contained in vessels of clay (our frail human bodies -- originally fashioned from clay). (Though Paul is directly referring to himself here, there is no question but that it is meant to apply to all believers.)

Ordinarily a treasure would be kept in a sturdy and elegant container. But God has ordained that the precious treasure of the knowledge of Christ be contained in feeble, dying, breakable pots made of dirt and subject to pain and death.

If the glory of God was most perfectly manifested in the humanity of Christ, who took upon Himself the weakness of a human body and suffered in it on the cross, surely it is fitting that the glory of God be manifested now in our weakness, not in our strength. The very fact of our weakness becomes a fitting context for the proclamation of the good news of an incarnated, crucified deity.

That way, the surpassing greatness of the power of the gospel will be shown to be of God and not from ourselves.

Do you feel weak? Good. That’s the way God wants it. He wants to show His mighty power by making the magnificent and priceless treasure of the knowledge of Christ exist in and radiate through your weak and decaying body. As we are pulled down by the millstones of our weaknesses and our troubles, He wants to empower us from within, so that we stay afloat to His glory.

But in order for this to be successful, we must be willing to let go of this life and this body and this world, and find our identity first and foremost in Christ. Otherwise, even though God is miraculously feeding us in the wilderness, our troubles and our weaknesses will be producing in us a grumbling and bitter spirit which longs for the leeks and onions of Egypt.

O Father, show forth the surpassing greatness of Your power in my life. May the treasure of the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ abide in this clay pot in such a way that does not give glory to me but to You. Please, Father, by Your Spirit, make my life point others to You.

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