2 Corinthians 4:7-12 says...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, which read,
v.7-10 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Paul has this "treasure," this ministry of the new covenant of salvation in Christ that is shared with others with words and with life, and this "treasure" has been placed in his "earthen vessel." An earthen vessel was a clay pot fashioned to carry out normal tasks around the house. It was not fashioned in a way to be put on the shelf just to look at but it was created for immediate use. Many times what was inside the earthen vessel was more valuable that the earthen vessel itself. It was fragile and many times had cracks and chips out of it because of use. If you broke a earthen vessel it was not a big deal and you went out to get another one to replace it. Paul is using this analogy to speak of his physical life. Within his frail physical body was the invaluable new covenant of Jesus to be shared with others. His physical body had some cracks and chips because of use of sharing this message. His physical body would someday break but God would provide another to keep this task going on until His return.
Paul then gives us a battle cry for those earthen vessels who are doing what he is doing and finding opposition and persecution. You can afflict Christians but the gospel message will not be crushed. You can perplex Christians but the gospel message will not despair of being shared. You can persecute Christians but the gospel message will not be forsaken by them. You can strike down Christians but the gospel message will not be destroyed.
What is within us is more valuable than what we are ourselves. In the process of trying to destroy the messenger, it just brings more attention to the message that they are carrying. Paul is saying that even his suffering is for the glory of God so others will see Jesus.
v.11, 12 - For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.
Paul uses words like "always" and "constantly" to give us a picture that the suffering he is experiencing while sharing the gospel is intense. He is putting his life on the line so that others hear and see Jesus. He is willing for his earthen vessel to be broken for the sake of sharing the new covenant with those around him.
Self-reflection time: does this describe you and me? But Adam, we are not persecuted for the faith like Paul was. It is like apples and oranges when we look at Paul's world and our world. Granted, it might look like that right now in our corner of the world but there are other corners that it is apples to apples when they read these words. They know exactly what it is like that Paul is writing about. Can I push a little bit this morning? I am pushing you and me. Is it apples and oranges to us because we are not actively pushing the gospel? We are not actively pouring it out of our lives? We are the pot on the shelf that is all pretty and just taken down on special occasions but not the earthen vessel for God that is used everyday to pour out the message of the new covenant. Could it be that we are not chipped and cracked because we have abandoned the daily pouring out of the gospel? Some thoughts for a Friday morning.
"Lord, what would happen if we did? I know from Your Scripture that I might get knocked around some but Your message would not be destroyed. It would get out there. I fear that we are on the shelf many times dressed up as a special occasion vessel instead of a vessel that You grab to use everyday. Lord, help me to pour You out to others. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7-10 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Paul has this "treasure," this ministry of the new covenant of salvation in Christ that is shared with others with words and with life, and this "treasure" has been placed in his "earthen vessel." An earthen vessel was a clay pot fashioned to carry out normal tasks around the house. It was not fashioned in a way to be put on the shelf just to look at but it was created for immediate use. Many times what was inside the earthen vessel was more valuable that the earthen vessel itself. It was fragile and many times had cracks and chips out of it because of use. If you broke a earthen vessel it was not a big deal and you went out to get another one to replace it. Paul is using this analogy to speak of his physical life. Within his frail physical body was the invaluable new covenant of Jesus to be shared with others. His physical body had some cracks and chips because of use of sharing this message. His physical body would someday break but God would provide another to keep this task going on until His return.
Paul then gives us a battle cry for those earthen vessels who are doing what he is doing and finding opposition and persecution. You can afflict Christians but the gospel message will not be crushed. You can perplex Christians but the gospel message will not despair of being shared. You can persecute Christians but the gospel message will not be forsaken by them. You can strike down Christians but the gospel message will not be destroyed.
What is within us is more valuable than what we are ourselves. In the process of trying to destroy the messenger, it just brings more attention to the message that they are carrying. Paul is saying that even his suffering is for the glory of God so others will see Jesus.
v.11, 12 - For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.
Paul uses words like "always" and "constantly" to give us a picture that the suffering he is experiencing while sharing the gospel is intense. He is putting his life on the line so that others hear and see Jesus. He is willing for his earthen vessel to be broken for the sake of sharing the new covenant with those around him.
Self-reflection time: does this describe you and me? But Adam, we are not persecuted for the faith like Paul was. It is like apples and oranges when we look at Paul's world and our world. Granted, it might look like that right now in our corner of the world but there are other corners that it is apples to apples when they read these words. They know exactly what it is like that Paul is writing about. Can I push a little bit this morning? I am pushing you and me. Is it apples and oranges to us because we are not actively pushing the gospel? We are not actively pouring it out of our lives? We are the pot on the shelf that is all pretty and just taken down on special occasions but not the earthen vessel for God that is used everyday to pour out the message of the new covenant. Could it be that we are not chipped and cracked because we have abandoned the daily pouring out of the gospel? Some thoughts for a Friday morning.
"Lord, what would happen if we did? I know from Your Scripture that I might get knocked around some but Your message would not be destroyed. It would get out there. I fear that we are on the shelf many times dressed up as a special occasion vessel instead of a vessel that You grab to use everyday. Lord, help me to pour You out to others. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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