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PREVAILING CONTRAST

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2 Cor 4:7-12 NIV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

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Distrustful of banks, people who grew up during the Great Depression find all kinds of places to store their cash.  From mattresses to behind electrical outlet covers, the more unexpected the better. The practice of hiding valuables in unassuming places goes back even to biblical times, where treasures were  hid in common jars of clay; so as not attract attention.

Paul uses this common practice to highlight the fact that when it comes to persons in Christ, one shouldn’t be surprised to see the contrast between the quality of the vessel, and that of its contents.  For in fact, despite the frailty and inadequacy of the human vessel; the overcoming Spirit that has been placed within not only confers unimaginable worth, and even power!

Despite struggle, confusion, persecution, and injury; it is the treasure within which denies defeat.  Echoing the very experience of Jesus’ death in their body, Paul and his  co-ministers reveal Jesus’ resurrection to all they encounter.

It is our acknowledgement of the very contrasts that act as a crucial component the current of God’s activity in the life of those who are in Christ.  Just as differences in temperature and saline content of ocean water (i.e. thermohaline circulation) act as an engine for the North Atlantic current, it is the conflux of our weakness and God’s strength which reveal the resurrection life of Christ.  When we hold onto the illusion of our strength, our value, our life apart from God; His is not revealed.  But when we lean into even the suffering and persecution that comes in the package deal of discipleship, the resurrection engine is activated.  Inhabiting the very contrast strangely enables us to prevail.

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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• This morning, will you delight in and adore the God in Christ who would choose to put His treasure in jars of clay; inhabit weakness and death, just to reveal His resurrection power in us, in you?  Will you make your praise this morning an act of faith?

• Given that struggle, confusion, persecution and even injury can be part of the package deal of discipleship, how are you feeling the activity of “death” in your body today?  How is sickness, aging, grief, despair, etc. accosting you today?  Will you compensate not with reaffirmations of your beauty and worth, but with that of Christ in and with you?

• Will you call on God to prevail through His resurrection power in your body; as well as in the body of Christ today?

This devotion was written by Pastor Martin