Fragile Jars, Great Treasure
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. – 2 Corinthians 4:7
The tragedy we’ve witnessed these past weeks is enough to make us crumble and shut down. It seems like every other day there has been something unbelievably sickening and evil to report. And then, to our shock and horror, we see people actually celebrating it.
When the symptoms of our broken world crush and consume like ravenous lions, it is more important than ever that we remember where our strength and power come from. It’s vital we reclaim our hope.
Paul uses a beautiful metaphor to describe the fragility of humanity. Believers are like jars of clay. Our flesh is easily broken. We can be smashed to pieces at any moment. We’re vulnerable and perishable. This has been obvious lately.
Yet we can still have confidence. We can still get up each day and run the race set before us. We can still make the enemy flee in fear. We can still be victorious because our power is not in ourselves, it is in God and from God.
This is the treasure we have in us. It doesn’t tarnish. It doesn’t break. It doesn’t grow dim. It is beyond the schemes of man, and beyond the powers of hell. It is the power of God that raised Christ Jesus from the dead, won the victory over evil, and will bring justice to our world once and for all.
When the jar breaks, it is not defeated. It just provides a way for the power of God to spill out so all can see. The more the jar is beaten, the further the gospel surges. Because of God’s surpassing power, we may be afflicted, but will not be crushed. We may be perplexed, but we will not be driven to despair. We may be persecuted, but not forsaken. When we are struck down, we will not be destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
This power is God’s, not ours. Without it, we couldn’t withstand these trials. It’s not a matter of pulling ourselves up and psyching ourselves up. It is only because of what Jesus did that we can have hope amidst the horror.
Through our union with Jesus, we have resurrection life. It is not time to throw in the towel. It is not time to fold. It is not time to melt down.
It is time to reclaim our hope in Christ and let God’s power shine in the darkness.
Lord, fill us with your power, and help us to be bold in truth and love. Amen.
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