Treasure in Jars of Clay | Chris Howard | 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
We expect treasured items to come in impressive containers. A luxury watch in a sandwich bag feels wrong. An art masterpiece in a barn seems like a mistake. But God places the most glorious treasure in the universe into the most ordinary, fragile vessels imaginable: us.
This week at Grace, we'll open 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 where Paul pulls back the curtain on what Christian life and ministry (serving others in Jesus' name) often feels like. My hope is that you leave knowing that the times you feel weighed down, confused, targeted, and knocked flat are exactly what God is using to bring life to the people around you.
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2 Corinthians 4:7-15
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.