“Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4.7 (HCSB)
This verse refers to the Holy Spirit. A treasure in a clay jar (which is our body). When we receive Him, we no longer depend on our own strength. Why try to fight with your own strength? Why make justice with your own hands, if the extraordinary power comes from God? There is no one better than Him to defend us and give us strength. There is no one better to do justice, to guide us, to put things in their proper place.
There is no one better to help us lead those who depend on us, to reach out to those in need. There is no one better than Him to sustain us. He is the treasure; we are mere clay jars. To make this clear to everyone, if there is any power in us, it comes from Him.
The following verses describe the strength we get from this power and how He sustains us: “We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4.8-9
We are pressured in EVERY way. The problems that arise and threaten us could overcome or oppress us, if we were empty. But when we look in the clay jar and see the Treasure, we are assured that the power to overcome any tribulation is in Him. Therefore, from this confidence comes peace, which doesn’t allow the tribulations to become grief.
We are perplexed in EVERY way. It is not unusual to be negatively surprised by a certain situation or by someone’s reaction. We may be perplexed, but we should look for the Treasure within our clay jar and have the absolute conviction that everything will work out. Therefore, from this conviction, from this faith, we can obtain the strength that does not allow perplexity to become despair.
We are persecuted in EVERY way. No matter what we do, the clay jars that do not possess the Treasure have dirt inside them that causes them to look their worst. Therefore, it is normal to be persecuted, wronged, misunderstood and even made fun of. But we can look to the Treasure within our clay jar and know that we are not alone.
Our Treasure chose us. He knew us and loved us. He knows who we are. He does not misunderstand us or look at us with bad eyes. He gives us the ability to forgive those who have trespassed against us. To bless those who persecute us. From this love, comes the comfort that does not allow any persecution to become abandonment. On the contrary, the greater the persecution, the closer we get to our Treasure.
We are struck down in EVERY way. The battles that arise, the times we put our faces in the dirt, the times we wash the bathroom floor with our tears, or cry silently, repentant, pouring out our soul before the altar.
Then we see, within the clay jar, that firm and radiant Treasure – and we understand that He is our foundation. We are built on the Rock. On our Precious Stone. No strike against us will destroy us because we were built on Him.
Pressured, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Because of our Treasure.
We are clay jars among many other clay jars… there are more than seven billion clay jars in this world. In how many of them can we find this Treasure that is so precious and necessary? How many jars of clay are thirsty, cracking because they are so dry? How many are in need of this inner reinforcement?
Many do not understand that trials, perplexities, persecutions and strikes will come sooner or later. But only the clay jars that possess this Treasure are able to support all of this. These jars understand that the extraordinary power that sustains them comes from the Treasure, and not the clay. And, so, they value what they have received. And are valued by Him.
Regards,
And may God bless you.