Jars of Clay

I love the way God is feeding my soul these days.  I feel like a little bird in search of bread crumbs guided by a power far beyond my greatest imagination.  I’m yearning for more spiritual insight, and He is leading me there. 

A couple of days ago I was led by a favorite devotional book, to 
II Corinthians 4:7-12:

 “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. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

These verses screamed so loudly to me, making clearer so many things that are happening in our lives, in my soul. 

I reached a moment last week when I began to feel “despair” and that word jumped off the page as I read the verse.   Fortunately my sister was here to recognize that evil spirit. She called it “despair,” and she prayed it away.  She identified it and called on the Holy Spirit to bind that evil thing!  Flash! It was turned to something else, but I couldn’t quite describe the emotion at the time.  Then I read these verses, and it became clear – I was perplexed.  What Satan wanted as despair, that flaming arrow of Satan, was shielded by faith and prayer.  Thank you my dear sister for allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in my life through you.

The other night, Mark had a bad headache, and I couldn’t help but think of this verse as it described his physical state…”pressed hard on every side, struck down but not abandoned.”  I had to read it to him.  As I read I couldn’t help but see how Mark’s body is so clearly being “given over to death” and it highlighted the mortality that all of us share.  But that’s not as depressing or sad as it might sound because in this verse it also says we carry around the death of Jesus so that Jesus may also be revealed in us. And, that our “jars of clay” bodies carry a treasure to show the power of God!   I have to confess that I wanted to run with this and conclude that Mark will undoubtedly be healed to show God’s power….that this verse was in some way a direct promise of that.  But, I knew that that might just be a selfish pursuit.  So, I yearned to understand more of what this verse was saying.  Jars of clay….I had to understand those words of God more.

That night, as we were getting ready for our family bedtime prayers, a song on the radio was playing that my son had been singing all day long and had stuck in everyone’s heads.  I had to know who sang it…..”Jars of Clay.”  Hmm, another crumb from God leading me back to His word.  I had to pursue that verse more!  Then I remembered that our pastor had led us through a Sunday morning series on II Corinthians a few years ago. I would search for the sermon on our church’s website.  I love those audio archives!  Here’s the link if you want to hear it too!  (http://media.edmondfaithbible.com/faith/media/mp3/20070826_1563-10.mp3)

What a powerful message packed in these verses!  My life is to be a “jar of clay” through which God can display His power.  As we sacrificially serve, as Christ did, we will bless others as they receive life (eternal life).  In our weakened, common states, we should put aside our own selfish desires and sacrificially give so that others can receive the eternal treasure we have in Christ. My husband is doing this in an even weaker state as a vessel of our Lord.   The Almighty Physician will show His power!