OUR DAILY BREAD : JARS OF CLAY

[cimi]

February 21
Thursday


JARS OF CLAY

READ:
2 Corinthians 4:7-15
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We have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that
the excellence of the
power may be of God
and not of us.
__2 Corinthians 4:7
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When you buy a nice piece of jewelry, it is often tucked into a setting of black-or dark-colored velvet. I think it's designed that way so that your attention is immediately drawn to the beauty of the jewelry. If the packaging were highly decorated, it would compete with the beauty of the treasure.

It reminds me of Paul's comments about the ministry of Jesus through us, when he said, "We have this treasure in jars of clay" (2 cor. 4:7 NIV). It's easy to forget that we are the packaging and His work is the treasure. So we adorn our jars of clay, taking credit for the things we do to serve Christ. We seek to bring glory to ourselves when we've forgiven someone, or shown mercy, or given generously. The problem is, when we start seeking affirmation and praise for good deeds, we compete with the brilliance of the treasure of God working through us.

When we do things for Christ, it's not about us but about His glory. The less obvious we are, the more brilliant He becomes. Which is why, Paul says, the treasure has been put in jars of clay so that God would be the one to be glorified. Besides, since when are jars of clay significant? It's what's inside that counts! __Joe Stowell
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`````````````````Help us not to cloud God's glory```````````````
``````````````````Nor with self His light to dim;```````````````
``````````````May each thought to Christ be captive,````````````
``````````````Emptied to be filled with Him. __Anon.```````````
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****************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 4:7-15*************

7 But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the
excellence of the power
may be of God and not of
us. 8 We are hard-pressed
on every side, yet not
crushed; we are perplexed,
but not in despair;

9 persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but
not destroyed__ 10 always
carrying about int he body
the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life of Jesus also
may be manifested in our
body. 11 For we who live are
always delivered to death
for Jesus' sake, that the life
of Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal
flesh. 12 So then death is
working in us, but life in
you.

13 And since we have this
same spirit of faith,
according to what is
written, "I believed and
therefore I spoke," we also
believe and therefore speak,

14 knowing that He who
raised up the Lord Jesus
will also raise us up with
Jesus, and will present us
with you. 15 For all things
are for your sakes, that
grace, having spread
through the many, may
cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Bible does not let us forget that we are formed from the ground
(Gen. 2:7; Job 10:9; 33:6; Eccl. 3:20; Rom 9:21; 1 Cor. 15:47).
Earthen vessels are used as a metaphor for human frailty, weakness,
and limitation (Job 4:19; Ps. 31:12; Rev. 2:27). By speaking of
himself as a jar made of clay (2 Cor. 4:7), Paul acknowledges his
own unworthiness (1 Tim. 1:15) as a messenger compared to the
grandeur of his message (Eph. 3:7-9).