July 24, 2023 | Be On Mission
This Treasure in Jars of Clay
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4(NIV)
1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Devotional
In the fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul continued the thoughts laid out in previous chapters, when he spoke of the hardships Christians in the Roman Empire were facing, how they bore the aroma of Christ, and the veil that was removed from their hearts when they believed in Jesus. Here he extended those teachings even further, encouraging them to “not lose heart.”
Life in the world can be hard. Some of the words Paul used in this chapter are indicative of living a worldly life without Christ: having secret and shameful ways, distorting the word of God, and blinding the minds of unbelievers. How do you see these played out in your culture? What about in your church? How about in your own life?
When we aren’t doing it to ourselves, the world often does it to us. Paul extended his earlier teaching that our bodies are temporary vessels by writing, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (v. 7). Our lives are like clay pots, useful for a while until cracked and shattered and buried away. Isaiah 45:9 says, “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’”?
There is value to putting our lives in perspective. There is even greater value in putting Christ in perspective. Only because of Him do we have hope, purpose, and life. Remember, the aroma of Christ is one of death. Christians were beginning to be persecuted by Roman authorities in terrible ways. Paul acknowledged that with powerful words, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (v. 8-9).
The god of this age (Satan) cannot have us. The powers of this world cannot defeat us. The tribulations of life cannot overwhelm us. The temptations of culture cannot conquer us. Why? “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (v. 10). As Paul opened this chapter, he closed it by saying, “Therefore we do not lose heart” (v. 16). Our bodies may be temporary jars of clay, but our salvation is an eternal hope of promise.
Poem
Pottery
Dirt and water
Slap on wheel
Turning, turning
Hands raise up
Slap down again
Turning, turning
Hands insert
Molding, form
Turning, turning
Stop the wheel
Formed clay
Off
Tempering dry
Glaze apply
Into kiln, baking
Heat arise
Cracking? True?
In the kiln, baking
Testing work
Refining trial
In the kiln, baking
Heat decreases
Cooling down
Off
Treasured item
In earthen ware
Holding, holding
Eternal soul
In clay pot
Holding, holding
Death of Jesus
In the body
Holding, holding
Manifestation
In mortal flesh
On
