But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
There are days when my body aches and I can definitely tell that things I could do when I was younger are getting harder to do.
I love my summer travel to Africa and the mission work I do in Jos, Nigeria. I have been traveling to Jos each summer for the last 10 years and I definitely notice that it takes more time for my body to adjust returning home.
I can definitely tell my body is a ‘jar of clay.’ So my heart shouts ‘Yes” when I read Paul’s response to his jar of clay!
Yes! It is not about me, it is about the all-surpassing power [which] is from God.
God certainly is powerful. God created everything from nothing! There is no greater demonstration of power than that, in my estimation.
And yet, reading this passage creates a strange juxtaposition in me. Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Jesus… that helpless baby is another demonstration of God’s all-surpassing power! God became a human to lead us back into relationship with the Father. In the birth of Jesus I see how God’s power is also demonstrated in ways that are so counter to what I would normally associate with power!!!
While death is at work in my ‘jar of clay’ body, God’s life is at work in and through me.
Lord, may my life make a difference in this world. May it make the kind of difference that brings life and love and faith to many people. I pray this is Jesus’ name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment