Despite our flaws and imperfections, God has chosen to house His all-surpassing power within us, demonstrating His grace and glory through our lives.
Good morning, family of God! You know, this world can make us feel pretty beat up and broken sometimes, can't it? If you're anything like me, there are days when your flaws seem just too big to bear. But I've got some good news for you today. We're going to dive into 2 Corinthians 4:7, and I promise, it's going to put a spring in your step and hope in your heart.
Let's read the verse together:
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
Isn't that something? God's incredible treasure, His all-surpassing power, is housed in us - jars of clay. Not gold vaults, not diamond containers, but in imperfect, flawed, breakable clay jars like you and me.
John Newton once said, "I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am." We are not made on a potter's wheel but in the image of God, the perfect Potter. He is the one molding us, shaping us, and filling us with His treasure, His grace, and His power.
Let's pray, shall we?
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace that accepts us as we are and loves us too much to leave us that way. Help us remember that we are clay jars, flawed, yet filled with your priceless treasure. Guide us in understanding why you chose us, imperfect as we are, to display your power and glory. Open our hearts to receive your word today. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Now, let's dive in.
God's grace is the unmerited favor of God, a divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification. This grace, this divine love and protection bestowed freely upon us, is not given because we have earned it or because we are perfect. In fact, it is quite the opposite. God's grace is most powerfully demonstrated in flawed people, in our weaknesses and imperfections.
The metaphor of a clay jar: Clay jars in Paul's time were common, everyday items. They were not particularly beautiful or strong. They were prone to cracks and easily broken. Yet, Paul says that we, flawed and fragile as we are, carry within us the treasure of God's grace. This is a profound statement about the nature of God's grace and the value He places on us.
Not diminished by our flaws: Our flaws provide the perfect backdrop for His grace to shine. In our weaknesses, His strength is made perfect. In our brokenness, His healing power is displayed. In our sinfulness, His forgiveness is magnified. The clay jar, with all its cracks and imperfections, does not detract from the treasure it holds. Instead, it enhances it. The light of God's grace shines through the cracks in our lives, illuminating the darkness and drawing others to Him.
A lived reality: Throughout the Bible, we see God using flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes. Moses was a stutterer, yet God used him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. David was an adulterer and a murderer, yet God called him a man after His own heart. Peter denied Christ three times, yet he was chosen to lead the early church. Paul himself was a persecutor of Christians before he became one of the most influential apostles.
God does not call the qualified: He qualifies the called. He does not look for perfection; He looks for willingness. He does not require us to be strong; He asks us to lean on His strength. His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness.
In our lives: We may feel like we are too flawed, too broken to be used by God. We may feel like our mistakes and failures disqualify us from His service. But the truth is, our flaws do not disqualify us from God's grace; they qualify us for it. God's grace is not for the perfect; it is for the broken, the flawed, the sinful. It is for people like you and me.
How we view ourselves and others: It can free us from the burden of trying to be perfect and allow us to rest in the sufficiency of God's grace. It can give us the courage to be vulnerable, to admit our weaknesses, and to let God's power work through us. It can help us to extend grace to others, recognizing that we are all flawed vessels carrying the treasure of God's grace.
The treasure that Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 4:7 is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, and the salvation that comes through Him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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