6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”a 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.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
Thoughts: In the 1946 a shepherd boy discovered large clay jars in a cave in an isolated mountain near the Dead Sea. This was one of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever. It gave us portions and even whole books of the Old Testament Bible dating back to the third century BC. The treasure of the Bible was preserved in large clay jars or vases for centuries.
In our passage it speaks about treasure in jars of clay in a different manner. The Gospel of Life is taught by frail and fragile human beings. Even more of a contrast is found when we think of the hope that gives eternal life is given to others by sinful human beings who need forgiveness. It is amazing to think that God entrusts the most important news in the world to people who mess up and who are blinded to the importance of it all. Many can turn away from the hope of Christ because a minister may say the wrong thing in the wrong way. Some preachers I have seen are great about preaching but not great about living what they preach. Paul himself took part in the stoning of a deacon. Peter denied Christ three times and all the disciples ran away. Yet the good news of Christ still needs to be heard- even if it is given by those who are not consistent with it, or even if we mess up the way we say it, or get the message itself garbled up. Yet the hope of Christ is still our true needed hope. Paul says that this gives even greater glory to God. For if God can still get through to people despite our slip ups, mess ups, and goof ups- it is the Spirit of God at work overcoming the messenger with grace. Do not ever be afraid of saying the message wrong, or wrongly. Be afraid of not saying it at all. God will use you to help someone with their faith if you will be courageous and share.
In our passage it speaks about treasure in jars of clay in a different manner. The Gospel of Life is taught by frail and fragile human beings. Even more of a contrast is found when we think of the hope that gives eternal life is given to others by sinful human beings who need forgiveness. It is amazing to think that God entrusts the most important news in the world to people who mess up and who are blinded to the importance of it all. Many can turn away from the hope of Christ because a minister may say the wrong thing in the wrong way. Some preachers I have seen are great about preaching but not great about living what they preach. Paul himself took part in the stoning of a deacon. Peter denied Christ three times and all the disciples ran away. Yet the good news of Christ still needs to be heard- even if it is given by those who are not consistent with it, or even if we mess up the way we say it, or get the message itself garbled up. Yet the hope of Christ is still our true needed hope. Paul says that this gives even greater glory to God. For if God can still get through to people despite our slip ups, mess ups, and goof ups- it is the Spirit of God at work overcoming the messenger with grace. Do not ever be afraid of saying the message wrong, or wrongly. Be afraid of not saying it at all. God will use you to help someone with their faith if you will be courageous and share.
Prayer: Lord, may I not get in the way of your Gospel. May the treasure of the greatest message in the world not be obscured by my failures, fragility and frailty.
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