2 Corinthians 4:7-10 ESV “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.’’
What are vessels for? We would all agree that vessels are made to contain something. That is their sole purpose. It reminds us that we were intended to contain something. We are made to be vessels, made to hold something, and if we do not have that something in there, our lives are inevitably empty and meaningless.
The vessel is not much in itself, but it holds a treasure beyond price. Christ in you. This is the treasure.
Colossians 1:27b NASB: ” which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
It has been said, “Man can live about 40 days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope.”
By the Spirit living within us, we have the capacity to encounter the resurrected Christ through life’s various twists and turns, all of which are infused with hope. Indeed, the Holy Spirit makes Christian hope accessible. Therefore, we have hope that whatever challenge comes our way, God’s grace is sufficient for the occasion.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT) “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
Paul tells us, “This treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So, everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken.”
During all this trouble and trials that a believer faces, God allows us to go through them to display his power! The believer in Jesus Christ reacts differently to the troubles of this world, through the all-surpassing power of God!
You cannot show God’s power on your own. But, an useable vessel, an old ordinary clay pot which contains power of God in you. Let the Holy Spirit control you, and allow his all-surpassing power to be seen in your life!