TUESDAY, JANUARY 23
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV
WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN: STAY HUMBLE
In virtually every episode of “Antique Roadshow,” someone discovers an item they picked up for just a few dollars at a yard sale is worth thousands. For years, the plant pot in Terry Nurrish’s dining room had served as a makeshift goal post for his children to kick balls through. But, when he took it to an Antique Roadshow filming in 1991, he was stunned to discover that it was actually a French urn made in 1874. It was valued at over $13,000. Mr Nurrish eventually sold the urn in 2014 for over $900,000.
In 2 Corinthians the Apostle Paul reminded the false apostles they were clay pots and not rare French urns. The false apostles in the Corinthian church thought far too much of themselves, and they had misled many saints into thinking too highly of them also. We who believe in Jesus Christ are merely clay pots, who have nothing to glory about in and of ourselves. We are the containers, and the contents have all the glory. Clay pots have nothing in which to boast; they have no basis for feeling superior. The treasure gains nothing from the pots; if anything, the pots gain from the glory of the treasure.
Pastor Kent Hughes wrote, “Indeed, contrary to the beliefs and expectations of the world, which thinks only in terms of human ability and accomplishment, it is precisely the Christian’s utter frailty which lays him open to the experience of the all-sufficiency of God’s grace, so that he is able even to rejoice because of his weakness” (Hughes, 137).
Where do you feel the weakest in life? That may be the area in your life where God can be most glorified. Ask God to help you rejoice in your weakness and see His power and grace work through that weakness.
“Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
(2 Cor 12:9-10 NLT)
