The Treasure in Earthen Vessels

When Steve and I got married and our first anniversary was approaching, we decided to buy gifts for each other based on the "traditional anniversary gift list" (google it if you are not familiar). This took off any pressure to have the perfect gift for the other and also gave us practical ideas that brought about some creative gifts. It's always been a fun thing we have done and this year is no different. This year happens to be pottery. It's a good thing we moved to Poland this year, where they have some beautiful pieces of pottery (again google it if you are not familiar with Polish pottery). But we will not be exchanging our gifts with one another today, so I thought I would write. And as I sit here with a feverish baby at my side and my middle child away from me (with daddy) at the hospital, I can be discouraged, and wish we weren't in a place where we can't understand doctors and such. But I'm not...2 Corinthians 4 tells us this:

1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 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. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

So instead of being discouraged, I am encouraged. I am reminded today that we are here because we are like clay pots (pottery if you will), often that are cracked/broken/sick but not destroyed. Another version uses the words "earthen vessels" rather than clay pots. We are to be the vessels in which god uses to expand His kingdom here on earth. There is so much to what is contained in this chapter, but I want to highlight this that encouraged me today...the light of the Gospel of Christ has been poured out into our hearts if we profess Jesus as Lord and is ruling and reigning in our hearts. Therefore, because of this, our lives (broken as they may seem) are pouring out this light of the Gospel for others to know and love Jesus as well. We are not supposed to pretend to be strong. We, in our nature, are very weak. I know many who can't admit that, sometimes I can't admit that. Where I grew up and in the culture I was surrounded by, weakness isn't good, it's viewed as just that, weak! And strength is valued. But as I have grown in my understanding of the Word of God, I have grown more confident even in the midst of my weakness. The Lord is the one who is strength and it is His desire to shine through us to make much of Himself, not of me. I don't want people to look to me as someone who has done good things, I want people to look to God and see the great things He has and is doing. I like how Matthew Henry commentary writes it: 

"Why they should not preach themselves: because they were but earthen vessels, things of little or no value. Here seems to be an allusion to the lamps which Gideon's soldiers carried in earthen pitchers (Judges 7:16). The treasure of gospel light and grace is put into earthen vessels. The ministers of the gospel are weak and frail creatures, and subject to like passions and infirmities as other men; they are mortal, and soon broken in pieces. And God  has so ordered it that the weaker the vessels are the stronger his power may appear to be, that the treasure itself should be valued the more. Note, There is excellency of power in the gospel of Christ, to enlighten the mind, to convince the conscience, to convert the soul, and to rejoice the heart; but all this power is from God the author, and not from men, who are but instruments, so that God in all things must be glorified."  

(This entire commentary of this chapter can be found clicking HERE)

Wow! As a minister of the Gospel, we came here to be used of God, for His purposes, to shine the light of His glory. And as we continue to "break" so to say as we walk through many days of illness or blow after blow, we are becoming less obstructive to the light of the Gospel that is shining through. The ministers of the gospel are weak and frail and subject to our passions and infirmities...yet in knowing that, the weaker I am, the stronger His power will appear. And sickness-if you've been following us for a while, you know sickness has been following us-seems like it wants to destroy us, but it can not. Because it is through the broken pieces that God's glory is shining. We ask God to continue to be at work in our hearts, and in our midst so that we, too, do not lose heart. These things are momentary troubles, but achieving for us an eternal glory that surpasses this all! 

I realize today that the best gift of pottery that I can give my husband for our anniversary is not the gift I bought, but rather myself, a broken clay pot. One that can love, honor and cherish him (as I said in my vows on this day 8 years ago) in a way that will reflect the light of the Gospel and help spur on His own growth to being an image bearer of Christ's glory. I'm thankful to be on the journey of life with my other half (though separated today and long to be back together again soon) we know that God is at work in our hearts, and desperately continue to pray for the broken and weak areas of our lives to be places for God's gospel light to shine through us. Thank you to many who are holding us up to God in your prayers, He is doing amazing things in our midst!