2 Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are just an “earthen vessel.” The picture here is a vivid one. The Greek word for “earthen” is what archaeologists are digging up today. Actually, many of their diggings are in the old city dumps where all the broken pottery (clay vessels) was thrown. When I was in Lebanon, I went down to Tyre and walked along an excavation. It goes across the place where Alexander the Great filled in between the mainland and the island to form a peninsula there. I walked out on that to see the excavation going on. There was so much broken pottery there that I could have filled bushel baskets. That is how we are pictured here—weak clay vessels, pottery that can be broken.
That is the glorious gospel. We carry this glorious gospel in our little, old earthen vessels. My friend, that is the thing which we need today. We need the vessel to be broken. The apostle Paul was a man who knew what it was to suffer for Jesus’ sake. That vessel had to be broken. The trouble today is that we don’t have very many who are willing to do that. We cannot have our way and His way in our lives. We need to make up our minds whether we are going to follow Him or not. 1
Personal Application
- Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. How does God make us into His treasure?
Godly Encouragement
- Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. –1 Corinthians 2:5
A Biblical Thought to Share with Others
His hidden treasure in us becomes displayed for all to see. – TWEET IT
A Prayer to Consider
Lord, may You make me into a vessel for Your honor and glory.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (2 Corinthians) (electronic ed., Vol. 45). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
