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.
In this one verse, Paul establishes some salient and important facts and truths about us - Who we really are and What our mission is.
We have this Treasure in Jars of Clay. Who is Paul referring to as WE? I and you are the WE. We have treasure. And what is this treasure?
This Treasure is the most special of all treasures - the Gospel of Jesus Christ and good news of salvation.
For someone to possess some treasure, there must be a vessel or place of safekeeping for this special relic. Here’s one of the bibles greatest mysteries. God chose Fragile Jars of Clay as the storehouses for his treasure! Think of clay. Even when baked, clay is fragile. A simple drop to the ground and it’s broken. Why would God place his precious treasure sealed by the precious blood of his own son in unreliable clay jars? To show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us
Because Gods intention was never for us to be proud or self-reliant and not that we could be so he placed his treasure in us though feeble to show the power of the Gospel.
I chose this verse for a reason. One of the lies the devil has spurn in our generation to keep young Christians from unapologetically shining our light is the lie that we are not perfect. “Don’t be noisy when you still sin”. “Because you managed to be good for one week you want to shout”. But this is a LIE! Our Maker never intended us to be perfect. There’s something I say a lot:
The Shortcomings of Christians and the Church is a big proof that the gospel is real and true
If the church and its membership were perfect, the gospel would be a lie. Gods light shines through the cracks, not perfection.
So then, Shine your Light Young Saint! Don’t hide your scars or cracks or broken parts. I know God has redeemed you from your brokenness. Use that story to connect to a struggling Saint and tell them of how the Gospels Power Liberated you.
IT IS CHRIST WHO SHINES, NOT YOU