2 Corinthians 4:6-7 - Shine Jesus Shine!
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 - Shine Jesus Shine!
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV) 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. 7 But we have
this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power
belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT) For God, who said, "Let there be light
in the darkness," has made this light shine in our hearts so we
could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves
are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This
makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
God spoke the light into existence by a single command (Gen.
1:3 and Psa. 33:6, 9). His first recorded words brought forth light
where there had been only darkness (Gen. 1:2). Not only did God create
natural light, He sent His Son to be "the light of the world" (John
8:12). All physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual light have
their origin in the Father of light (James 1:17). By very nature God
is light (James 1:17; John 1:4, 5)...
The very One who created the sun to illuminate the primeval
darkness of this world also provides the light of truth to enlighten
benighted minds (Ps. 119:105). As the spoken word of God brought light to
a dark world, the living Word, as set forth in the written Word,
commands the light of heaven to shine into darkened souls...
The purpose of God's shining into men's hearts is to give
light, the purpose of the light is to acquaint them with the knowledge
of the divine glory, and the purpose of the knowledge of the divine
glory is to save them... [SDA Bible Commentary]
Paul's life was a clear and unmistakable demonstration of the
power of God held in a jar of clay. He wasn't exempt from difficulties
because he was the Lord's servant; in fact, the overwhelming
circumstances, troubles, and mental anguish that accompanied them served to
display the glorious message of Christ and to reveal the power of God in
Paul's life. In today's passage he reveals to us the secret that God
has designed us as earthen vessels and that the treasure of his
light and power and glory is held in our perishable, weak bodies. Why?
So that everyone will know that this power and greatness is from
God--not from us --but from God. That is why we can say with Paul that
though we may get knocked down, we get up again and keep going. We may
suffer, but we won't be crushed. We may be perplexed or frustrated, but
we are never driven to despair, all because of the treasure of
Jesus, who dwells within us by his Spirit.
LORD, thank you for designing me to be a clay jar with an
amazing treasure inside. And though the circumstances of life may press
me down, you never abandon me. May others see your power and light
through my life. May you truly be glorified in my weakness, in this
earthen vessel that I am. [Praying Through The Bible By Fuller re vs.
7-9]
Knowing God and having Him reside within you is a treasure of
infinite value. Jesus likened this value to that of a perfect pearl. The
collector would readily sell everything he had in order to possess this
one matchless pearl (Mt 13:45-46). Your relationship with God places
an immeasurable value on your life. The treasures of God's wisdom
and knowledge are available to you through Christ (Col 2:2-3). His
love now fills you. His incomprehensible peace surrounds your heart
and mind (Phil. 4:7). When Jesus dwells in your life, everything
available to Christ dwells within you (Eph 3:19).
Paul was comparing our lives with the clay pots commonly used
in his day. The contents of the earthen vessels, not the containers
themselves, were of great value. The jars would become chipped and broken
and would deteriorate over time, but nobody thought of the jar -
they were interested in its contents. Paul noted that our great
possession is that which God has placed within us. When people focus on us
they see a frail, imperfect, and deteriorating vessel. Nothing that
comes from our flesh is worthy of praise. Our bodies are aging and
losing strength (2Co 4:16). Only as we allow God to fill us and renew
our inner self will people see a treasure of immeasurable worth.
Don't focus on outward appearances and physical strength, for
these deteriorate. Rather, allow the Holy Spirit to convince you of
the infinite treasure that is within you because of God's presence.
[Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re 2Co. 4:7]
The safety video on an airplane reminds us that if the oxygen
masks fall from the overhead compartments, parents should put on their
own masks first before helping their children. It seems selfish,
doesn't it? A parent taking care of his or her own needs before trying
to save the life of the child sitting in the next seat? That goes
against our instincts. But the reason for the me-first approach is
obvious: if the parent passes out, there is no one to help the child.
Some of us tend to pour out our lives for others without
taking care of ourselves. Though God has called us to be carriers of
His Presence into this world, we often go into the world without
having cultivated the Presence. We neglect the flame within us, and the
result is a host of burned-out God-carriers who have only normal human
capabilities to offer. But the world is already full of normal human
capabilities. It needs more of God's nature. It needs people who can impart
God's peace, speak His truth, access divine strategies, and carry His
power. And in order for that to happen, we have to cultivate His
Presence within us.
Pouring out for those around you is a vital part of the
calling God has placed within you, but if you aren't pouring out the
life of God, you're pouring out yourself. That's admirable, but it
isn't enough. You're a vessel that contains God, a priceless treasure
in high demand. One of the greatest mission efforts you can ever
make is to cultivate the Presence within yourself. Only then can you
offer Jesus to the world.
Jesus, it's amazing that I can embody You - that this jar of
clay carries such a priceless treasure. But Your Word says it's true,
and I don't want to waste one bit of the treasure. Stir up Your
Presence in me so I can carry You into a world hungry for what You offer.
[The One Year Experiencing God's Presence Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen re 2Cor. 4:7]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Let Me fill you with my Love, Joy, and Peace. These are
Glory-gifts, flowing from my living Presence. Though you are an earthen
vessel, I designed you to be filled with heavenly contents. Your
weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit; on the
contrary, it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more
brightly.
As you go through this day, trust Me to provide the strength
that you need moment by moment. Don't waste energy wondering whether
you are adequate for today's journey. My Spirit within you is more
than sufficient to handle whatever this day may bring. That is the
basis for your confidence! In quietness (spending time alone with Me)
and confident trust (relying on My sufficiency) is your strength. (2
Cor. 4:7; Isa. 30:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
As you wait attentively in My Presence, the Light of the
knowledge of My Glory shines upon you. This radiant knowledge transcends
all understanding. It transforms every fiber of your being: renewing
your mind, cleansing your heart, invigorating your body. Open
yourself fully to My Presence; be awed by My glorious Being.
Try to imagine what I gave up when I came into your world as
a baby. I set aside My Glory, so that I could identify with
mankind. I accepted the limitations of infancy under the most appalling
conditions - a filthy stable. That was a dark night for Me, even though
angels lit up the sky proclaiming "Glory!" to awe-struck shepherds.
When you sit quietly with Me, the process I went through is
reversed in your experience. As you identify with Me, heaven's vistas
open up before you - granting you glimpses of My Glory. I became poor
so that you might become rich. Sing hallelujahs to My holy Name! (2
Cor. 4:6; Phi. 2:6, 7; Luke 2:13, 14; 2 Cor. 8:9) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
Receive My Peace. This is still your deepest need and I, your
Prince of Peace, long to pour Myself into your neediness. My abundance
and your emptiness are a perfect match. I designed you to have no
sufficiency of your own. I created you as a jar of clay, set apart for
sacred use. I want you to be filled with My very Being, permeated
through and through with Peace.
Thank Me for My peaceful Presence, regardless of your
feelings. Whisper My Name in loving tenderness. My Peace, which lives
continually in your spirit, will gradually work its way through your entire
being. (Isa. 9:6; 2 Cor. 4:7; John 14:26) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
It's all right to be human. When your mind wanders while you
are praying, don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your
attention to Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I understand.
Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no limits or conditions. Whisper
My Name in loving contentment, assured that I will never leave you
or forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly
throughout your day. This practice will enable you to attain a quiet and
gentle spirit, which is pleasing to Me.
As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My
Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and
woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My
Glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most
effective in your weakness. (Deu. 31:6; 1 Pet. 3:4; 2 Cor. 4:6-7; 2 Cor.
12:9) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Come to Me with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you
are complete. As you rest quietly in My Presence, My Light within
you grows brighter and brighter. Facing the emptiness inside you is
simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness. Therefore, rejoice
on those days when you drag yourself out of bed, feeling sluggish
and inadequate. Tell yourself that this is a perfect day to depend
on Me in childlike trust. If you persevere in this dependence as
you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and
Peace have become your companions. You may not realize at what point
they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial
effects of their presence. The perfect end to such a day is a doxology
of gratitude. I am He from whom all blessings flow! [2 Cor. 4:6;
Mat. 5:3, 6; Col. 2:9, 10; Psa. 150:6] [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
ILLUSTRATIONS
All my life I longed to do something big for God. Heroes of
the faith - biblical, historical, and contemporary - fascinated me.
I threw myself into every ministry opportunity I could find. But
the harder I tried to be strong, productive, and heroic for God, the
more I became exhausted, burned-out, and discouraged.
My body buckled under chronic illness, and my enthusiasm
dwindled as I faced failures in my work and in the ordinary struggles of
marriage, parenting, and friendships. It took those painful challenges to
learn that God wanted me to trust him to be the hero of my story
instead of relying on my own strength or achievement.
When I asked God to make me brilliant, brave, successful,
physically strong, and emotionally tough, he coaxed me instead to serve
others in my weakness. His grace leaks out of the cracks and chips of
the simple clay jar of my life.
Sharon Hinck is a novelist who explores the heroic journeys
of ordinary women in The Secret of Life of Becky Miller and The
Restorer. [The One Year Bible Life Verse Devotional re 2 Cor. 4:7; Out of
the Cracks and Chips]
I needed these verses early in my married life when my
husband and I were told that having children would be impossible. I
clung to these verses when infertility treatments were curtailed
because radiation and chemotherapy to stop cancer had to take their
place. And I hang on to them now, years later, even though God has
brought us through those dark valleys to a more peaceful place, where we
are raising and homeschooling three active, imaginative, adopted
daughters. I rejoice in this blessing, the amazing privilege of motherhood,
but it also reminds me that I am imperfect and fragile. I'm still a
jar of clay, capable only as the Holy Spirit fills me!
Paul's words to the church in Corinth guide us as we share
the gospel. Often the world rejects or just doesn't hear the Good
News it so desperately needs. I'm not a traveling, suffering
evangelist, but I do want to glorify God in the midst of my challenges.
These verses tell me that what I perceive as suffering will not lead
to destruction. Just the opposite! God uses my trials to bring
glory to himself and to point me, my family, and even people I haven't
met to his Son, the one treasure that can truly fill us and make us
whole.
Amanda Werth, ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
is a full-time wife and mom, now "retired" from full-time ministry.
Amanda's husband pastors four congregations in rural North Dakota. [The
One Year Bible Life Verse Devotional re 2 Cor. 4:7-9; Fragile But
Not Broken]
UPCOMING BIBLE STUDY SERIES BY PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR
Heroes of Faith: http://www.theheroesoffaith.com/
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Guides:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
Or Send Request for Bible Studies to Fred Gibbs at:
fggibbs@aBible.com
