September 12, 2006

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

So this is the scripture memory for our cell group this week. I already knew this one. Memorized it a long time ago for LTC. I did it when I memorized 100 scriptures. At the time, most of them meant very little to me. Most of them just sounded good, and were very useful for sounding much more spiritual than I was. But there was no heart change through them. There was nothing in my heart at the time that made me look more like Jesus. Just words. Words from God no less, but words. So rather than having to memorize this word from God this week, I have had to plant it in my heart. I know it in my mind, but I know very little of the gravity of it’s meaning. I’ve never felt very powerful, but I understand the sentiment of being a jar of clay, or “earthen vessel” as other translations put it. Someone else may be able to help me with this a little more, but don’t clay pots have to be baked at very high temperatures before they can be used? I feel like one of those “pre-baked” ones. I’m soft on the edges, and still wobbly. You wouldn’t want to leave me out too long or I might fall apart. And it seems like God has to constantly keep his hands moving on me to keep me in position. I don’t feel like I’ll ever be beautiful, not like some of those other jars I see on the shelves. And I certainly don’t feel useful right now. Not like the vases, and bowls, and pitchers for water. (That’s what I’d really like to be, a water pitcher.) And I hardly think I could withstand the heat that that baking will require. I only pray that I will. So the part about being an earthen vessel really hits home to me. But this “all surpassing power”. That’s the cool part. To think that God wants to use this piece of clay, this me, this speck of dirt in his awesome creation, to do great things with his “all surpassing power” is beyond me to even imagine. To think that he may use me to give water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, or become a lamp for the world to see his light, amazes me and even surprises me. I often find it so hard to believe that I just don’t. But He said it. It’s right there in black and white, and how can I expect for Him to show up in living color if I won’t even be faithful in the black and white. So for me, this scripture isn’t another rule in the rule book. But the way I must be faithful to it is simply to believe it. Friends, and God, help me believe. Let’s remind each other of the ALL SURPASSING POWER that God is just waiting to demonstrate through our earthen vessels.