For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  ⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  2 Corinthians 4:7-11

Jars of clay are temporary holding pots, easily broken with use or worn with time. Paul reflects that our treasure, the light he has spoken into our hearts and our life in him, is held in jars of clay so that we might know that the power for light, life and eternal life belongs to God alone. He speaks light; He speaks life. He calls life and light forth from nothing for us and in us. Our lives, lived in the body of Christ, are eternal because our Lord is eternal.

The circumstances surrounding Paul’s ministry in 50A.D. differ vastly from 2010 in the United States of America, but living as a human being on this earth is the same. . . we carry the stuff of life well, we need the word of God to work in us to bring us to a more mature faith in Christ so that we carry Christ, not the stuff that weighs us down.  We deeply desire wholeness and we are called to find it in Christ alone. Paul continues in Ephesians 4: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

May God grant us eyes to see the light and life he spoke, the light and life who lives for us, in us and through us. May God grant us courage to allow his light and life to continue working in us. May God grant us boldness to allow his light and life to be spoken into darkness through us. May his peace that passes understanding guard our hearts and lives. Blessings IN Christ, Cindy

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