7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul speaks of this treasure which is the gospel message of Jesus Christ and how we have it in jars of clay. We are the jars of clay, we are fragile vessels. God chose to put His glorious message in weak and fragile containers that are decaying daily. He did this so that we remain aware of our weakness and unworthiness and so that he can show His power through us. Paul talks about how God upheld them by His power. they were afflicted in every way but never crushed. They found themselves at a loss but never completely despaired. They were persecuted but never left alone. They were struck down but never destroyed. In every situation, they experienced just a taste of what Jesus went through. Paul recognised the result of his suffering was life in Jesus as he became more Christlike (2 Cor 3:18). Paul knew that to live for Jesus means to be ready to suffer for Him. Contrary to much of what is promoted in Christendom today, the level of Christlikeness we will attain is proportionate to the amount of suffering we endure for Jesus’ sake. Paul was willing to die for the cause of the gospel. He was willing to suffer in order for the Corinthians, and others, to experience the life of Christ.
Paul quoted from Psalm 116:10, a Psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance from death, “I believed, and so I spoke.” Paul endured in the face of suffering because of his confidence that God would deliver him. God would deliver him through every trial, and ultimately because of Jesus’ resurrection, he knew he would be brought into God’s presence along with those he was ministering to. Everything Paul did was for the benefit of the Corinthians and other believers so that God’s grace would extend to more and more people so that God would receive glory and thanksgiving.
I’m sure that you can resonate with Paul’s analogy that your body is a jar of clay, weak and fragile. The question is, are you using that vessel to carry the glorious treasure of the gospel to others? Because that’s when God’s power is really going to shine through the cracks. Are you living your life to God’s glory?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Love in Action: 1 John 3-4