Text - 2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Hello Readers, this is coming 10 days late but Happy New Month! Welcome to the Month of August. I hope its an amazing month so far. God is able to see us through and he will!
This month, we’re starting off with a topic that is almost an oxymoron - Broken Testimony. A Testimony should not be broken, should it? A testimony is usually told after a period of tribulation and healing. It is normally told from a place of wholeness - post brokenness. That is it by the human sense anyway. But God choose something different. He choose a different system.
God chose Broken Testimonies
But we have this treasure in Jars of Clay. God is a different type of collector. He collects jewels and chooses the most unlikely vessel to hold them - jars of clay. Just picture it. You go through the rigour of mining precious jewels and gold. Then choose the most brittle countainer to place them in. It is not what we would do. But God did.
What is his treasure? His word. His power. His Holy Spirit. His Wonder Working Power. And what are the vessels of Clay? Me and you. Broken sin marred humans. We are Gods chosen agents. To show forth his name and power. With our pet sins. With our constant proclivity to pride and taking glory for his works. He chooses us.
Why does God do this?
God ensures that we and the world around us know that it is he who works
Think of the Apostle Paul who had a thorn in his flesh. He pleaded with God three times to take it away. And God gave him an unexpected response. He didnt take it away. But Instead led the apostle on a jounrey where he eventually confessed that Gods grace was sufficient for him and his strenght perfected through his weaknesses.
The Apostle Paul knew via his infirmity that he was powerless and all God was doing through him was as a result of Gods strenght working through him. Paul had one extra reason to not be proud. He had a weakness. A permanent reminder of his weakness and dependence on God.
Many of you are like the Apostle Paul. I am. I have lived with an infirmity for 11 years and I have gone through a similar journey. But today I can tell you with all joy that it is Gods conduit through which to shine his light. When I tell people of my condition, their first result is shock. Becuase I do the opposite of what I say I am dealing with. And I tell you folks, that Gods light can shine through my brokeness and that I am less prone to priding in my strenght and abiltiies is enough justification for the pain I deal with. Not to talk about the fact that this light momentary trouble is not worth comparing to the coming glory.
What area of your life are you dealing with weakness in? What brokeness has God given to you? Where do you limp?
Take Heart. It is Gods light shining through your Broken Vessel. Everything is for His Glory Alone.
I will soon be releasing a book titled “Bended but not Broken” which chronicles my journey with this weakness and my life journey in a broken world from teen age to now. I hope this will be another way God shines through my brokeness. I hope you see how he shines through yours too.
Here’s a song form my late Brother Charles Dogo who suffered with Sickle Cell Amenia till his demise in 2021 centered around the beauty in our brokeness. Enjoy