TREASURE-FILLED CLAY JARS (PART 2)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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.

We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

2 Corinthians 4:7-8b (NLT)

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Every Christian believer is like a clay jar filled with valuable treasure by God.

That’s the message we received from the scriptures in yesterday’s first message in this four message series.

We took this illustration and saw its applications to our human selves for we are all fragile vessels that the Lord fills with His knowledge and Spirit to carry out amazing purposes. Outside of what God places inside us, we are powerless but through Him and Him alone, we possess a strength that is unrivaled by people who have rejected belief in the Lord God Almighty.

In yesterday’s devotion, we saw how God’s incredible strength within us prevents us from being crushed by the troubles of the world that push in on us and apply pressure. Believers turn to the God of all possibilities, knowing there is nothing beyond the work of His hands. They also trust in the word of God that assures that no one can stand against us when the Lord is on our side.

So God’s strength and protection that keeps us from being crushed by the weight of the world’s problems is one treasure we find within our fragile “clay jar” selves.

As we look at today’s scripture passage, we add another blessing God brings us when we place our hope in Him for we find ourselves “perplexed, but not driven to despair”.  Here’s how other translations state this benefit from God:

“Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up.” CEV

“...sometimes in doubt, but never in despair” GNT

“...we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do” The Message

“We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living.” NCV

“We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair.” The Voice

The sum of these scripture parts reminds us that we don’t know everything. We are finite in our understanding and discernment of our life circumstances and the world around us. We don’t always have a firm grip on things. Often times, we’re just trying to find our grip on things. Remember, we’re “fragile clay jars” filled with valuable treasure by the God who wants us to feel frail and weak and perplexed because it leads us to place our reliance on Him. Like Paul, we realize that our power is not from ourselves but rather from God.

So the next time you are feeling puzzled, don’t lose heart. Remember you are a fragile clay jar and then remember that God designed you that way so you’ll trust Him for protection and understanding. Like The Message translation reminds us, we so often don’t know what to do but we know that God does. He knows exactly what He will do to come to our aid, our very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

We are not crushed those pressed on.

We don’t despair although perplexed at times.

The treasures given by God, treasures that fill up our “clay jar” selves, are freely given and we should be giving thanks every day for them.

Tomorrow, we’ll add yet one more gift God provides.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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