Jars Of Clay Series

The idea is that the Christian seems to get to the end of his rope and that is when God really works. The needs around us are immense and we all have problems of our own. Did Paul have problems? Well, he was pressed on every side, but not crushed. He was persecuted, but not abandoned. He was perplexed but not in despair. He was knocked down but not destroyed.

We do not wait for the ideal situation to jump in to serving the Lord and letting our light shine. Whoever influenced you to Christ, they were not perfect. God worked through them despite their problems. Don’t have these unrealistic expectations that you have to be perfect to minister for the Lord.

What if you were to say, sorry, but I am too hard pressed and too knocked down to let the light of Christ shine from me? No. Can you imagine a farmer who said I have so many needs that I will not plant this year. My house needs painting. My equipment needs servicing. There are medical bills stacking up so I will just skip planting and harvesting this year.

Yes the farmer finds it difficult, but without working the field and sowing the seed there will be no upcoming harvest. We do the best with who we are.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

How about that! The worse you are the more you show God’s power. Are you foolish? Good because the Lord uses the foolish to confound the wise. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

We let God’s power be made known in our weakness. Imperfect people can participate in shining the light of Christ in so many ways. You can give, you can pray you can go. You can be used right now and right where you are. There are ways you can reach out. You can let the light of Christ shine through you.

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)

The Lord uses our frailty to show his power. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. (1 Corinthians 1:26) Are you nothing special? Well, that is good because when God uses you it shows that the all surpassing power comes from Him and not from you.

Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:10)

Let’s look at this in the Message version: What they did to Jesus, they do to us - trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us - he lives!

We are dying and giving spiritual life to others. It is God's power, not ours, that keeps us letting the light of Christ shine through us. That is what demonstrates the all surpassing power of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

That is what makes faith in Christ so exciting. God will use us despite our weakness. Our weakness actually demonstrates the power of God.