Treasure in jars of clay
II Corinthians 4:7-15
We have been entrusted with a treasure, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ†(v6). When an individual turn by faith and accept Christ as their Savior, God takes up residence within us (jars of clay), and given us the ministry of revealing His light to those around us.
As clay vessels, we have no intrinsic value. We cannot protect this treasure nor does the treasure protect us from illness, human afflictions, etc. We are are frail and break down physically quite easily.
It is precisely our utter frailty which lays us open to the experience of the all-sufficiency of God’s grace, so that we are able to rejoice because of our weakness – something that astonishes and baffles the world, which thinks only in terms of human ability.
In verse 8-9, we find that in God’s sovereignty He allow us to be stretches, “BUT NOT†to the point of being destroyed. He has done this so that all may see that the transforming power of the gospel is supernatural and not just human.
Paul’s commnentary on this is found in verses 10-12 where we see the term “death†used three times and the word “life or living†used three times. What we are being told is that we need to change our inward attitude and “put off†those things which are relying on human ability and in so doing let the light of Christ shine forth so othesr will see Christ thru our life. This brings “the fragrance of Christ†(ch2:14-16) and life to those who are observing God’s working in and thru us.
As we begin to allow the spirit of faith to control of our lives, we then as folllowers of Christ become more thankful, more hopeful as we see the grace of God extending to more and more people.
Each one us have some influence on the lives of others around us. May they see us as broken clay vessels letting the glorious light of the gospel of Christ shinning forth.