Clay Pots

After my lunch meeting yesterday, I spent most of the night hugging my bible to my chest and just going back to scriptures and seeking understanding of some of the things I heard, and asking for more clarity on the directions I have been given hitherto and this scripture jumped at me. WE have all seen it or read it or heard it read before but it JUMPED at me and when I asked for better understanding, I wept with gratitude. Only the broken can understand. I will explain it:

Paul employed this imagery in his letter to the Corinthians to make an important point, one that has never been very popular and one most of us holy, never do wrong, 'perfect' believers never understand. We are like the clay pots, like alabasters; when we are broken, the light of the gospel is shed abroad. And when we are broken like clay pots, our strength or power is not seen, but God’s. When we are broken by adversity, by sin, by mistakes, opposition, and suffering, God’s power is revealed, and God’s work is accomplished in a way that does not glorify the “clay pots” but manifests God’s surpassing power and glory.

Who is worthy to be a "container" for God's light and glory? The smartest person isn't smart enough, the purest person isn't pure enough, the most spiritual person isn't spiritual enough, and most talented person isn't talented enough. We are all just clay pots holding an unspeakably great treasure!

Claypots were common in every home in the ancient world. They were not very durable (compared to metal), and they were useless if broken (glass could be melted down again). They were too cheap and of little intrinsic value. God chose to put His light and glory in the everyday dishes, not in the fine china, or English porcelain. He choose claypots like me, easily broken yet reflecting His glory.

We almost always are drawn to the thing that has the best packaging. But the best gifts often have the most unlikely packaging. God did not see a need to "package" Jesus when He came as a man to this earth. Jesus was not embarrassed to live as a clay pot. God is not embarrassed to use clay pots like me! or you or he or she. That the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us: Why does God put such a great treasure in such weak vessels? So that the greatness of the power may be of God and not of us. So that it would be evident to anyone who had eyes to see that the work was being done by the power of God, not the power of the vessel.

Why did God choose risky, earthen vessels instead of safe, heavenly ones? Because "perfect" vessels are safe, but bring glory to themselves. Clay pots are risky, but can bring profound glory to God.

On that day, there will be surprises in heaven.

Peace!