Jars of clay look pretty durable, but it is actually quite deceiving, in that they look strong, yet are easily broken with one hard bump. Jars come in all shapes and sizes and decorations, just as we do. We also may look strong, but are easily broken. It is safe to say that life and the experience of life has probably already given us a good bump and we are all slightly broken anyway.
We crack pretty easily: we get tired, weary, grow old and frail. God knows we are “made of dust” ( Psalm 103:14). We have high emotion days, say the wrong things, are impatient and irritable.
We are all just cracked clay pots.
Yet in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV) there is this incredible verse:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. “
Jesus understood that we are weak. The hardest part for us, is accepting that we are weak. We try do life in our own strength, but if anything, it exposes our weakness even more. No matter how much we push, we cannot do life on our own. We are not supposed to, God, is to be our strength because Jesus in inside of us – a treasure.
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom 5:6
We are weak, but God still chose us.
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.” (1 Cor 1:28)
And then Jesus died for us so that we can have a relationship with Him. He also sent the Holy Spirit as our helper. He now lives in us. We are all just cracked clay pots, but with a treasure in our jars of clay, that is the “all-surpassing power” from God in us.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20)
It is what is inside of us, that makes ALL the difference.
Yes, we are still made of clay…
Weakness is not a sign of God’s abandonment, but a sign of God’s activity in our lives.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Cor 4:16-17)
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- We are renewed each day by the power of Holy Spirit
- We are renewed each day by the renewing of our minds
- We are renewed each day by God’s grace upon our lives.
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God’s power in us makes it possible for us to live lives beyond clay, extraordinary lives beyond our dust.
If we would only believe it!
Instead we limit what God can do in our lives by looking at our cracked pots and not at the power that resides within us. You missed it before, but look at it again in the Amplified:
“For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence..” (2 Peter 1:3 AMP)
It just blows my mind every time!
Journal Questions:
- Do you ever feel weak and inadequate for what life throws at you? Write down the situations you have experienced where you have felt like this the most?
- Have you worked at being perfect and having it all together, getting it all right in order to have God be a part of your life?
- Have you ever meditated on the fact that all the power of God, embodied in the Holy Spirit, lives in you? How would it change your life if you could rely on this power for life and not your own power and strength?
- Look again at 2 Cor 4:7-9 above. What situations are you able to identify that it is possible to rise above because of the all-surpassing power that lives inside of you? What situations in your life could be described like that?
Father, I cannot praise You enough for sending your Son to die for me so that I can have a relationship with God Almighty. Thankyou Spirit for taking up residence in me, making my life new, giving me a new start and restoring my life. Help me to be more aware of the “all-surpassing power” within me, relying less on my own ability and more on You. This is why I can experience “immeasurably more” in my life, not because of me, but You in me.
My Faith Journey:
If God responded to my faith, then faith was the trigger to all of God’s devine power in me.
It was possible for me to have a sincere heart before God when I pray, yet if I do not believe, what would sincerity bring me. Inside of me God’s power is present in me, ready to fulfill God’s purpose, if I would just believe. I now understand Jesus’ statement to Martha at the raising of Lazarus:
“‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’” (John 11:40)
I would see so much more of the glory of God at work in my life and circumstances if I worked on my faith, what I believe and do not doubt!
Michelle, did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God in your life!
This is the end of Week 1 of the Online Bible study called “Faith. Lord Help me with my Unbelief”
Week 1: Immeasurably More
Week 2: Lord Evaluate My Faith
