Written ~ 11-06-2023
2 Corinthians 4:7
7 “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.”
In our verse for today we are described as “fragile clay jars.” Have you ever felt like a fragile clay jar? I know I have. To step out in faith to preach and teach the Good News of Jesus Christ doesn’t come easy to many of us. Maybe our personalities are a little more introverted and the thought of talking to a stranger or to a small group of people about Christ terrifies us. Maybe a sense of inadequacy overwhelms us, and we start stammering and nervously begin stuttering. Our hands get clammy, the heat rises up our necks and creates a flush to our faces, you think to yourself, “There is no way I can do this.” Well, you are absolutely right! When we are having a moment of great weakness and fear, God steps in, His Power through the Holy Spirit calms your spirit and then a supernatural confidence comes out of nowhere and you are able to speak the truth with boldness. So, if we ever feel like this “fragile clay jar” would never be capable of shining the Light of Jesus through speaking the Gospel message, let’s look at what the Lord said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9,
9 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
When we rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit in our weakened state, it becomes very clear that God is working through us. Here is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:3-5,
3 “I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”
Boy, I can identify with Paul so much! I admire his transparency and through his proclaimed weakness he was used mightily by the Lord! Maybe I see myself in Paul because throughout his ministry he wrote letters to the believers. His words fill the pages of the Bible with such confidence and boldness, and still today his words bring encouragement and instruction and through his written word you can feel his urgency as he speaks about Christ.
What if, now… you are the person who is unafraid, you are extroverted and have no trouble speaking your mind and you can talk to anybody about Christ, this attribute comes quite naturally, you are a born leader. Do you consider yourself a fragile clay jar? Maybe not. You don’t struggle with confidence, you have boldness that can sometimes overwhelm the introvert. It might be that in your own strength you step out, it may even be difficult to see the Holy Spirit working through you because you are the one taking over. Has it become so easy that you no longer seek the Lord in your confidence? Let’s look at what Isaiah 29:16 says,
16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and He is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?
Could it be that in your confidence you have lost sight of your weaknesses? What if the Lord asked you to quiet your boldness for a season, to be patient, take a back seat, be a part of the sidelines, sit on your hands, to observe, would you be able to do that? All of us have weaknesses, it will certainly look different in all of us. Examine your personality, just briefly, in what way can the Light of Jesus shine more greatly because it is done in weakness, through that fragile clay jar? We have determined that the Power of God is much more authoritative when it’s being used by a fragile clay jar. Has the Lord ever asked you to do something outside your comfort zone? Do you question Him, because you have “talent” in other areas?
In our verse for today it says,
7b “This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
When we allow God to work through us in our weaknesses, His Glory is going to shine!
Part of verse 4:7 says,
“…but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure…”
We are vessels. Our lives contain the very Spirit of the Almighty God. Look at what Philippians 2:13 says in The Amplified Bible,
13 “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”
We have God’s purpose within us! And He may just surprise us in the way He decides to use us! This is where the Holy Spirit steps in to guide us, to teach us, and to give us strength in those weaknesses.
Listen to the words of Jesus in John 14:26,
26 “But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you…”
Also in Acts 1:8a Jesus is telling His disciples about the Holy Spirit…
8 “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…”
So, if we have the Light of Jesus shining through us, the Holy Spirit’s Power to give us confidence and boldness and we have purpose given to us by Almighty God, what’s our first step?
To become a “fragile clay jar.” We must humble ourselves before the Father and ask to be used by Him, in the way He wants His Glory to shine.
Let’s remember what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10b,
“…For when I am weak, then I am strong…”
Thank the Father for your weaknesses. Have Him help you discover His Power in your weakness.
~AMEN~