treasure in jars of clay

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2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

We are jars of clay.

I have to admit, I always got Paul’s metaphor wrong. I, as I tend to do, made it all about me. I pictured myself as a crystal clear glass jar with a lump of grey sculpting clay inside. My jar was no fragile vessel. This was thick, sturdy, sparkling glass, able to withstand high temperatures or clumsy hands. And that lump of clay was my life, ready and waiting for God to sculpt me, or more likely, ready and waiting for me to sculpt me into what I thought my life should look like.

As it would be, I’m not made of sturdy, sparkling glass. My vessel is frail. Under the pressure of this world, I crack. And that sculpting I thought I could do with my own life? It broke me. Completely. Exactly how He planned it.

The jar, it turns out, isn’t what we should be occupied with. Benjamin Jowett writes, “There is something wrong when the vessel robs the treasure of its glory…when the picture takes second place to the frame.”

What God places inside our vessel isn’t a shapeless, colorless lump of clay. It’s treasure. The spectacular, brilliant, blinding treasure of the gospel. And He’s entrusted it to our weak, broken jars. Because it’s through our cracks and holes that the Light shines through.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (v.10).

We aren’t beautiful, unbreakable jars holding clay; we are frail, weak jars made of clay. And yet we’re holding God’s richest and most glorious treasure.

Sisters in Christ, let’s thank Him.

Let’s thank Him for our cracks.

Let’s thank Him that outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (v.16).

Let’s thank Him for the light and momentary troubles that are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (v.17).

Let’s thank Him for our fresh start.

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35 thoughts on "treasure in jars of clay"

  1. ed sheeran tour says:

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  2. Valanne says:

    I was traveling on this day, and have backtracked, as I didn't want to miss any of this. I was so encouraged by this passage that I read it in three translation to make sure that I was really grasping how wonderful these 12 verses really are. There is so much hope in theses verses, and good reasons not to rush through our afflictions–God uses them for His kingdom purposes. Thank you Lord that we can shine for You during any circumstance in our lives.

  3. LaurenC_ says:

    It has never dawned on me to thank God for my cracks, my failures, my disobedience. Until now. I realize that as much as I keep praying to our Father, praising Him in all His merciful glory, at the end of the day I still see Him through my earthly eyes and assuming He looks on my cracks as my earthly father does. I've never thought to thank God for my mistakes and failures — especially the ones I repeat over and over. This day's devotion has shown me that perhaps this is exactly what God wants from me; to thank Him for creating me to be so flawed, so that I will seek Him each time I see my deep, wide open cracks. This is where His light shines the brightest in me! Thank you God for seeing me as your masterpiece, regardless of how I see myself, regardless of how many cracks I have. Thank you for teaching me over and over to dare to believe that what you say about me is true.

  4. Grace says:

    “He’s entrusted it to our weak, broken jars”.

    Entrusted…that’s a heavy thing, that’s a weighty thing, that’s an awesome thing…he trusts me…this sinner is not worthy. And yet, his redemption of me makes it so.

    Thank you…working through redemption and entrusted-ness in my soul lately and this hit home in a very sweet way.

  5. Sarah says:

    "The spectacular, brilliant, blinding treasure of the gospel. And He’s entrusted it to our weak, broken jars. Because it’s through our cracks and holes that the Light shines through."

    I love this quote. It reminds me that even though we are broken and unworthy, God loves us enough to send his Son to be the Savior of our lives. In doing so, we become a vessel to share God's love with others. I believe that being genuine, authentic and vulnerable allows others to see who we truly are and the Light we have because of Jesus.

  6. haleyh4 says:

    "Because it’s through our cracks and holes that the Light shines through." That is beautiful yet difficult to let it be a reality. Confession is a corporate spiritual discipline because vulnerability breeds vulnerability. Lord I pray that you would help me to be vulnerable, so that your glory may shine through.

    James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.[a]

  7. AnnaLee says:

    There is so much beauty in being "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." (vs 8-10). I've looked back on the times in my life where I wasn't with Christ, and in complete despair, living towards death; but even then, the Lord was faithful, and for every step I drew nearer to Him, he was faithful tenfold. Lord, thank you for all the things that are broken and unable to be understood. Thank you for the wreckage in different parts of my life, but for giving me hope, promises, and guidance to cling to and love during all of it. I am by no means perfect, and I definitely let myself go astray from Christ when I shouldn't (Father, fix me to your path and show me how to be the person YOU want me to be, NOT others)–but our God is so good to accomplish what our frail frames can't ever accomplish. Thank you for the times of bittersweet joy amidst sorrow. Thank you for never being finished with the faithful work you've sought out to do in me. Our God is so faithful to heal us in ways we never would've been able to on our own.

  8. jesusgirl71 says:

    wow! never thought of it this way, as made of clay with the treasure inside. thanks for this.

  9. justemmahh says:

    I feel like this passage is so hard for me to grasp, always has been. I don't know why though. Praying that God will make it clear and reveal something to me.

    Praying for you sisters! <3

  10. Candace Jo says:

    Love this! One of my favorite things to study in the Bible. I did a post on it, actually my notes from a Mother’s Day luncheon, if you would like to read it. It mirrors Sarah’s thoughts. http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/2013/05/08/treasures-in-jars-of-clay/

    I love the most the thought that when our clay pot gets pushed around, bumped, bruised and cracked…what happens? What is inside comes pouring out! When we are “hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down”, we spill out the very presence of Jesus Christ and fill the room with His aroma! We then draw attention to Him!

    But if we are never pushed, shoved, or knocked around, then the treasure just sits there. It is never shared. It stays hidden.

    The temptations and trials that come along in our lives do not mean we have been abandoned by the Lord or that He doesn’t love us. Quite the contrary!

    I don’t believe the Lord puts things on you but I do believe He can make something good out of them. It is because He BELIEVES in YOU as His treasure holder who spills out His presence that He allows these things in your life!

  11. Hazelmaddie says:

    Kyla, I am also recovering and I’m in pain every day. Not sure when I’ll be better. But your words have convicted me. When people ask about how I feel, I usually give them the physical facts. What a missed opportunity! God has shaped me and blessed me so much the past two years and I need to talk about it! Thanks for sharing.

    1. Kyla F says:

      It is my pleasure to share! It has been a very recent shift for me that began right after Christmas. Prior, I was really struggling with my emotions and with the weight of it all, but once I started to truly surrender to God and seek Him fully, my heart changed and so did my perspective. I hope you have a great day!

  12. Wen says:

    Thank you for posting the link to Angie Smith. The broken pitcher was awesome.

    1. Kyla F says:

      It was my pleasure Wen! :)

  13. Kyla F says:

    There is so much goodness in today's reading, and it came at a time where my body has been feeling broken (I am walking through an ongoing back injury) but my spirit has been uplifted so much recently by God. Through the pain that I have experienced, I have been able to witness to others and praise Him for how He is using it to refine me. As we are pressed in on all sides by life and trials and storms, we can look up and fix ours eyes on things above and grab hold of the hand that carries us even when we aren't looking.

    Also, after reading the comments above about praising God for our cracks, I want to share this beautiful, fitting post by one of my favorite authors, Angie Smith: http://angiesmithonline.com/2008/05/the-past-and-

    Have a lovely day ladies! :)

    1. Janet says:

      Wow, Angie's post was awesome! Thank you!

      1. Kyla F says:

        My pleasure, I'm so glad you liked it Janet! She has written a few books and I really enjoy reading her words because she teaches in a way that really penetrates my heart.

  14. Ashley says:

    What an amazing post today sister. I just spoke with my bible study partner on Monday about how ashamed I sometimes feel that my post Christ story is worse than my ore-Christ story, she reminded me that without knowing The Lord, I may not have survived my own story. It's so important for us to let God shape us and make us into the perfect treasure, to hide us in a vase. Remembering that while a mother outs a band aid on a boo boo, The Lord reaches down and smooths are cracks and uses them in his master piece.

  15. smallworldtn says:

    I am not sure I've ever really absorbed this part of the verse before: our "inner self is being renewed every day." I love that so much. Such a great relief! This makes me think of the song "Brokenness Aside" by All Sons and Daughters. Such a beautiful song! http://youtu.be/qXqvJb_IGak

  16. teambanks6 says:

    Wow. I don't look like much on the outside. But on the inside? God's doing a work. And I. Am. So. Excited about what I'm turning into. The Message says, "Even though on the outside is often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace." v.17
    Praise God for the work He's doing in ALL of us!

  17. Donna says:

    We are frail, weak jars made of clay. And yet we are holding God's richest and most glorious treasure. Thank you Lord that though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord.

  18. Jessica says:

    My commentary says it this way: "Those who bear the glorious light of the gospel are compared to jars of clay, inexpensive and easily broken; and this serves to show that the power released through the preaching of the gospel is from God and not from us."
    Thank goodness we are meant to pale in comparison to our God! Our brokenness makes it clear that any power we have is not our own doing. Thank you, Lord, for "The spectacular, brilliant, blinding treasure of the gospel … [which you have] entrusted … to our weak, broken jars."

  19. Amy says:

    The cracks! How important and truly necessary they are to shine the light of Jesus's love to the world around me. Verse 17 is a great one to keep near, "Our present troubles are small and won't last long." Praise God!

  20. Shelia says:

    Today's post reminded be a book study I did a couple of years ago entitled "Becoming a Vessel God Can Use". It talked about God could use the vessel regardless of its imperfections, its past, where it had been, etc. I pray that today and everyday, I allow God to fill this cracked jar with his spirit and his word, so that I can be used by him.
    Have a blessed day ladies!

  21. Catie says:

    I have never thought of this metaphor like this before! It is beautiful though. We are all fragile human beings susceptible to break and fail, but we have God’s treasure inside of us — his word. I love verse 8-9: “We are all bard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”

    We all face trials in are life and are pressured to do the wrong thing or “break” but God is always there even if we feel abandoned or hurt. Today, I pray that I can grow in God’s word and inwardly be renewed each day. Only his word and a relationship with Him will set me free from the things in life that may hold me back. Thank you lord for sharing your beautiful treasures with us today and everyday!

  22. Joanne Sher says:

    We wish we weren’t broken – we try to cover up our cracks. Yet they are how God shines through us. Thank You, Lord, for my brokenness – for shining Your light through this fragile, weak vessel.

  23. LaurieEW says:

    Never thought of the light shining through those cracks, but thought God would fill them in with his grace. Pray Lord that I allow you to shine through all of my many cracks.

  24. Amy says:

    Love the picture frame analogy. I would be so offended if someone looked at a picture of my family and commented on its frame and not the picture itself. How much more God must ache when we overlook His work in us – the treasure inside of us. Thanks for this fresh perspective today.

  25. Vonné Conradie says:

    Dear Lord thank you that you shine through my shattered vessel! Every cracked is a testimony for you my Lord! May the world see what You are and have done in my small life! All the glory and praises are Yours Lord! Shine Lord let me feel You shine! Let every person by touch by Your glory and agape Love! Let the world shine Lord! All for You! This is my prayer in Jesus Name! Amen. Have a blessed day all you princess of the Most High!xx

  26. tina says:

    Lord, thank you that you are trusting me, the "cracked" one with Your richest and most glorious treasure. Your word ….Lord, May I be worthy and bring you the glory that is so very rightly yours, but most importantly, Lord God, I pray I can be your light through my "designer" /creator cracks.
    Thank you for the renewal, inside, each day, thank you for Your light which seeps through those cracks….Thank you Lord God that I can speak because I believe, thank you, Lord, thank you. AMEN.
    Morning Ladies. Be Blessed. X

  27. Claire says:

    I love 2 Corinthians 4:16 and very much feel like outwardly I’m wasting away so was amazing to come before God this morning and ask him to inwardly renew me today and every day. My prayer is I will feel his strength within me today but (in the words of 3 incredible men in Daniel) even if he does not I know he is good.

  28. Heidi Thompson says:

    16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self his being renewed day by day.

    This is so beautiful! Thank you for my cracks, Dear Jesus, which provide opportunity to let your light shine through me, and reach others. Thank you for renewing me each and every day. Thank you for the reminder through your Word, that today's troubles are momentary.

  29. Bethany says:

    I never think to thank Him for my cracks. I keep thinking that I need to cover up my cracks because they are ugly and embarrassing, rather than seeing them as the places where the Light is most visible! Oh Lord, let me embrace the cracks that you allow.

    1. Teresa says:

      Love that Bethany! The cracks are where the Light is the most visible!

    2. You're spot on, Bethany! I think so many people who don't know Jesus are annoyed by the "plastic" Christians that permeate America. People who aren't real, people who aren't genuine, people who aren't honest and people who appear to have it all together. Is it easy to relate to a person like that? Of course not! Is it easy to see how that person needs Christ? Of course not!

      The cracks are where the Light is most visible. There, grace is visible. Healing is visible. Joy in the midst of pain and confusion is visible. When we're honest and vulnerable about who we are and how desperately we need Christ, I think He becomes so much more attractive to those who don't know Him.