April 12, 2009 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars
We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treausre. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us. We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies. We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die. So death is working in us, but life is working in you. It is written in the Scriptures, "I believed, so I spoke." Our faith is like this, too. We believe, and so we speak. God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus. God will bring us together with you, and we will stand before him. All these things are for you. And so the grace of God that is being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for his glory. ~2 Corinthians 4:7-15~

A part of this passage reminded me of the song, "Trading My Sorrows." Part of the lyrics is from this passage: "I am pressed, but not crushed persecuted, but not abandoned struck down, but not destroyed I am blessed beyond the curse, for His promise will endure and His joy will be my strength." That is who we are in God. We are pressured from all around...here and there...yet, we are not crushed by all these concerns/burdens and pressures weighing us down. We are persecuted so many times, by the world, by non-christians, but never are we abandoned by God...we should never feel abandoned. We are struck down for who we are, but never destroyed.

What else are we? We are like a clay jar. Clay jars were used back then to contain anything: flour, water, milk, sugar, salt, and etc. Just like that, we are clay jars that contain something...what? The treasure...the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and of Christ.
By being the container of the treasure and not the treasure itself, we know that everything comes from God, done by the power of God. With that treasure within us, we need to display it right. We need to share it with others, spread it...become messengers.

BTW, I have a prayer request...I'm praying about going on missions this summer to Lima, Peru, and I really, really want to go, but my parents are hesitant to send me. They themselves have never thought about going on missions or sending me nor my brother on missions, so when I told them, it took them by surprise. My mom is also a bit hesitant because if I were to go, I wouldn't be going with my church, but with another church, so she's worried. My parents are praying about it, I'm praying about it, my aunt and uncle are praying about it...I really need your guys' prayer too! Please! Thank you!