We Have This Treasure

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  II Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

Where do you put your treasure?  We place great emphasis upon protecting our valuable possessions.  We put them in safety deposit boxes in the bank or in fire proof lock boxes neatly tucked away in our homes. We buy insurance policies to protect them in case of theft or damage.  We want to be sure that, should anything happen to us, our treasures are preserved for our descendants.  Makes a lot of sense, right?

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, writes that God has given us the light of the Gospel.  In fact, Paul says that God, who spoke light out of darkness in creation, chooses to deposit this light into jars of clay.  Consider the confidence that God places in us.  He communicates and entrusts the light of His Word to fragile vessels, prone to disobedience.  Vessels that will miss the mark time after time.  Yet, despite our many shortcomings, He gives us His treasure. Why does God do this?  So that the world can see that our great power comes from Him and is not conjured up by ourselves.

Beloved, God uses each of us to receive and reflect the light of the Gospel.  We have this treasure.  What we have obtained from God far exceeds the value of anything else that we can ever possess.  This treasure soothes doubts and calms fears.  This treasure lifts burdens and gives peace in times of storm.  We have this treasure that even shines through the cracks in our lives.  This treasure that takes our individual flaws and transforms us into vessels of honor.

Prayer – Father, thank You for entrusting us with the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Help us to never do anything that will discredit You and Your Kingdom.  We desire to be vessels that You can use to reflect Your Glory in the Earth.  This is our prayer and we pray it in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.