Xanthe Hancox

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  2 Corinthians 4:7-10

When this letter was written, clay pots were the Tupperware of the world. They were easy to buy, easy to break, and used to hold everything from water and food to money and jewels. Paul compares our lives to clay pots, saying that we’re not only common earthenware containers, but we’re chipped and cracked. But although we might be fragile, the treasure we hold is precious beyond compare.

God places a precious treasure in these fragile "jars of clay." Why? So that others will see and experience the treasure of Christ rather than being impressed with us Our lives are not made of reinforced concrete, stainless steel, or silver or gold so that we can take the credit for our success in this world. Instead they are made up of common clay, earthenware, so that the glory of God in our lives is plainly evident.

What happens when a clay pot gets jostled around, bumped or cracked? The contents spill out. And when a fragile human being who is filled with Christ is 'hard pressed’, ‘perplexed’, ‘persecuted’ or ‘struck down’? Jesus, his life, death and resurrection, comes spilling out.

The jostling and battering in our lives is not because God has abandoned us, it is because we are trusted messengers of his glory. God permits the battering and breaking process to go on in our lives, but that is all part of Christian growth. It’s good to be a clay pot.

Prayer: Lord, we pray that we may learn to accept gladly, cheerfully, and understandingly the experiences which come our way which force us to rely upon your grace. And even more, that we may learn to accept experiences which hurt us, but which also produce the life of Jesus within us. Help us to do this today. Amen.