Daily Bread 2010 - 2 Corinthians 4
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
There is a well known Christian band named “Jars of Clay”, it is one of my favorite groups. They get their name from this passage where Paul uses the metaphor of a “jar of clay” to illustrate what it means for us to be carriers of the Gospel.
We/I often have preached that people in Jesus’ day put valuables in jars of clay to hide them. Read this commentary which gives another perspective on Paul’s use of the jar of clay metaphor, I think it makes sense.
Those in palaces did not use clay jars for their valuables. Oh, you would have found them in the kitchen and the outhouse. For everything but the most ordinary functions, they used gold, silver, other metals, and well cured ceramics. Expensive liquids were not put into clay jars; they were stored in expensive, sturdy containers. In fact, it would be easy to be as impressed with the container as it was with the contents inside. "What an impressive pitcher you have," you might have said as the hostess poured your drink. Those were not ordinary clay pots presented to Jesus by the Magi, as they worshipped Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Those were expensive containers.
Clay jars in the first century were ordinary, common, easily broken, often discarded. They were used for carrying water and other ordinary functions, as trash containers, even as toilets. They would not have appeared as a main character in the cartoon version of "Beauty and the Beast." Bottom of the household totem pole, but functional.
So it's terribly humbling to realize that the Apostle Paul tells us we are clay pots. Harshly unflattering. It would not be so bad if he was talking about our lives B.C. (before Christ), but he's talking about after we have Christ in us. What is that about? (Blog: From Where God Sits, Herb Schaffer)
I like this analysis and can relate that oftentimes when I feel the most fragile or hard-pressed that I am more reliant on Jesus and His Spirit. Importantly what Paul over and over reiterates is that we preach Jesus and not ourselves.
Then, Paul closes this chapter with some very inspirational words about the type of transformation that is going on inside of us, despite the fact that our fragile bodies are gradually wasting away. In midst of our struggles and efforts to follow Jesus in a world that is blinded to spiritual reality, as we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, we will be preparing ourselves for eternity.
There will be a day when the quality of our work is revealed. The stuff we have done for ourselves will be revealed, and the work we have done to make the life of Jesus more clear to the world will have eternal benefit. We often talk about “preaching” the Good News, but really our whole lives are a proclamation of the Good News. Even as we face adversity, or maybe mostly when we do, we will be able to show a strength that comes from beyond ourselves that points people to the Father and the Son in the power of the Spirit.
What are you fixing your eyes on today? Is it seen or unseen? If you are going through a trial, remember your light and momentary struggle is achieving a glory that will far surpass it in the life to come!
Jesus thank for a new day to be a messenger of the Good News through how we live our lives. We are ordinary people, like jars of clay, and yet we carry around in us this treasure, which is often more prominently displayed in our struggles than successes. Use us to shine like the light in the darkness, so more people will turn to you when they are challenged for meaning and purpose in their lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
There is a well known Christian band named “Jars of Clay”, it is one of my favorite groups. They get their name from this passage where Paul uses the metaphor of a “jar of clay” to illustrate what it means for us to be carriers of the Gospel.
We/I often have preached that people in Jesus’ day put valuables in jars of clay to hide them. Read this commentary which gives another perspective on Paul’s use of the jar of clay metaphor, I think it makes sense.
Those in palaces did not use clay jars for their valuables. Oh, you would have found them in the kitchen and the outhouse. For everything but the most ordinary functions, they used gold, silver, other metals, and well cured ceramics. Expensive liquids were not put into clay jars; they were stored in expensive, sturdy containers. In fact, it would be easy to be as impressed with the container as it was with the contents inside. "What an impressive pitcher you have," you might have said as the hostess poured your drink. Those were not ordinary clay pots presented to Jesus by the Magi, as they worshipped Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Those were expensive containers.
Clay jars in the first century were ordinary, common, easily broken, often discarded. They were used for carrying water and other ordinary functions, as trash containers, even as toilets. They would not have appeared as a main character in the cartoon version of "Beauty and the Beast." Bottom of the household totem pole, but functional.
So it's terribly humbling to realize that the Apostle Paul tells us we are clay pots. Harshly unflattering. It would not be so bad if he was talking about our lives B.C. (before Christ), but he's talking about after we have Christ in us. What is that about? (Blog: From Where God Sits, Herb Schaffer)
I like this analysis and can relate that oftentimes when I feel the most fragile or hard-pressed that I am more reliant on Jesus and His Spirit. Importantly what Paul over and over reiterates is that we preach Jesus and not ourselves.
Then, Paul closes this chapter with some very inspirational words about the type of transformation that is going on inside of us, despite the fact that our fragile bodies are gradually wasting away. In midst of our struggles and efforts to follow Jesus in a world that is blinded to spiritual reality, as we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, we will be preparing ourselves for eternity.
There will be a day when the quality of our work is revealed. The stuff we have done for ourselves will be revealed, and the work we have done to make the life of Jesus more clear to the world will have eternal benefit. We often talk about “preaching” the Good News, but really our whole lives are a proclamation of the Good News. Even as we face adversity, or maybe mostly when we do, we will be able to show a strength that comes from beyond ourselves that points people to the Father and the Son in the power of the Spirit.
What are you fixing your eyes on today? Is it seen or unseen? If you are going through a trial, remember your light and momentary struggle is achieving a glory that will far surpass it in the life to come!
Jesus thank for a new day to be a messenger of the Good News through how we live our lives. We are ordinary people, like jars of clay, and yet we carry around in us this treasure, which is often more prominently displayed in our struggles than successes. Use us to shine like the light in the darkness, so more people will turn to you when they are challenged for meaning and purpose in their lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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