Treasure in Jars of Clay (2Corinthians 4:7-12)
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing greatness of the 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 may also 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. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
The treasure that is housed in the earthen vessels of our humanity is the glorious life of the Risen Christ, who desires to manifest Himself in us in our daily lives, and as a result manifest His life through us to others, giving them life, as they draw from the Living Waters of His Life flowing out of our innermost being. God wants us to experience, and thus others witness, the One who has the surpassing great power for the dirty work of daily living. What do I mean by the dirty work of daily living? Look at how Paul describes the war in this fallen world; afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. Each word represent different kinds and levels of conflict, form normal afflictions, and perplexities to rejections, and devastating (struck down) situations. Notice though what Paul says in light of all that. He says we aren’t crushed, though afflicted. We aren’t despairing, though perplexed. We don’t feel forsaken, though rejected, and we aren’t destroyed, though struck down. In other words, we have personal, daily victory in all of those battles because the One Who lives in us, who has surpassing great power isn’t ever crushed (stressed out, can’t handle it-itis), or despairing (all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are In Him). He is also never going to reject or forsake us (His presence is always our great companion and comfort), and He is never destroyed, no matter the devastation around us. We are just Earthen Vessels, but we rest in Glorious treasure Who lives within and is always BIG ENOUGH!!!