The first verse of yesterday’s passage reminded us that God’s Word is a lamp to guide our steps, and His light illuminates the righteous path that He has planned for us (Ps. 119:105). In today’s passage, Paul reminds us that as believers, Jesus’ light shines in our hearts. Unfortunately, unbelievers struggle to see Jesus, Who is the glorious light of the Good News.
Paul goes on to describe believers as “jars of clay” who carry the treasure of the Good News. As God’s jars of clay, we were created to withstand the pressures and darkness of this world. But that cannot happen apart from Jesus. The freedom that we have in Jesus, means that we are jars that contain God’s powerful light, and that light shines brightly because of our faithful endurance to the One Who is the Light of the World, Christ Jesus. All glory for this treasure needs to be given to Jesus.
Friends, I started a new book for one of my classes, anonymous, by alicia britt chole. I did not capitalize the title or the author’s name, and that is because both are not capitalized in the book. I have read quite a bit so far, and this is another book that I absolutely love. I am sure that I will share more with you over the week, but for now a quote from one of the author’s mentors resonated with me as I was reading our passage for today’s devotion. Chole’s mentor said, “I feel that trials do not prepare us for what’s to come as much as they reveal what we’ve done with our lives up to this point.”
Today, we have a choice to fully live in the freedom of Christ, and to walk along the path that the Holy Spirit is illuminating for us, or we can choose to walk alone in the darkness of this world. Either way, we need to remember that our choices are built on one another. Our greatest freedom is that our newly created lives point to Jesus, because we are building our new lives on Him, the Cornerstone of our faith and existence. We want to make sure that our lives, even during the trials of life, reveal Christ’s life, light, and love. Our lives should always point to Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:1-7 (NLT)
Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars
1 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing Your light to shine in our hearts. We are Your jars of clay, and apart from You, we are weak. Holy Spirit, please continue to fill us with Your light, and help us walk in the freedom of Your love. We want to choose You, Jesus, over darkness. So, during life’s trials and times when we are weak, please release Your life and power in and all around us. We want all that we endure to point to You, our Cornerstone, and eternal glory. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.