Last week I moved accross state lines. I will be honest, it was pretty stressful. Several things did not go as planned. My baby girl became ill. Our temporary house came complete with a broken swamp cooler and additional residents. (mice-yikes!) Despite the chaos and tears, I learned a valuable lesson…
I am fragile.
We use the simple to protect the treasured
As I sat in the middle of a sea of moving boxes last week, I realized that I put alot of faith in a simple, ordinary, cardboard box. I trust it to protect the treasures within it, even though I realize that the box, itself, can be damaged.
The box didn’t come to me first asking to be used. I purchased it, filled it, sealed it, and labeled it.
The cardboard box became valuable to me because of what I placed inside it.
In Biblical times, the same was true of jars of clay. A potter took the time to make the clay, and form it into a container that was ordinary and fragile. Food, water, and various treasures were then stored in the jar of clay, making it useful.
The jars of clay became valuable because of what was placed inside them.
I am a jar of clay
I am fragile.
I am ordinary.
I contain a treasure within me.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul writes:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
What I find interesting about this verse is that it is a part of Paul’s defense of his ministry to the Corinthian church. False teachers were infilitrating the church after Paul left and were challenging his authority. Instead of writing about all of his accomplishments, and why people should listen to him, Paul passionately defended his ministry of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ (see Chapter 3) and then
called himself a jar of clay.
Can you imagine what the Corinthians must have thought? Who is your hero of the faith? Maybe it is your Pastor, a Christian author or musician, or even Mother Theresa. What if they wrote to you today and called themselves a cardboard box?
I love Paul’s humility here. But what amazes me more is the rest of the verse…
“…to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Though Paul is fragile and ordinary, God chose to place the treasure of the “light of the Gospel” within him (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). The God who is able, immortal, omnipotent, wise, and loving chose to place His Spirit and the Gospel ministry inside of sinful, fragile men and women.
Why?
So that His power would be evident through us.
So that our insufficency proves His sufficency.
So that during the moments where I wanted to fall on the floor and cry, I was able to remain calm and even laugh. It was in those moments I knew God’s power was sustaining me.
I am a cardboard box
When it came time for the move, boxes were purchased. They were then filled, sealed, and labeled. Though they can be damaged, I still trust them. These boxes are valuable to me.
God purchased me with His Son Jesus’ blood.
The Holy Spirit has filled and sealed me.
I am labeled His for eternity.
I am broken and fragile, but God entrusts the ministry of the Gospel to me.
God crucified His Son, Jesus, because I am valuable to Him.
I have more in common with a cardboard box than I once thought.
I am fragile, but I carry within me that which is Holy.
Are you a cardboard box? Then stay tuned…in the next post we are going to take a look at the verses that follow 2 Corinthians 4:7. I promise they will be an encouragement to you. In the meantime, have you seen evidences of your fraility/God’s power in your life recently? I welcome your examples below in the comment section. I am praising God for His power today!
Hi Tracy,
Welcome to your new home. I look forward to your next posting. 🙂 Your words always speak to me and I appreciate them every day.
Good afternoon Kristin! Yes we moved from the beach to the desert this week. Quite a change! Praying that God’s power and presence will be evident to you this week. Blessings to you 🙂
Well said love! I told you He was going to use this experience to minister to others! And I am sure He will continue to. Thank you for being so transparent and for speaking to me today. I so appreciate your heart and your ability to love on others. Keeping you all in our prayers each and every day. Kisses and hugs from the hottest place on the planet! XOXOXOXO
Thank you my dear friend. Glory to God for NEVER failing us when life gets messy! He never fails when life is going smoothly either, Amen? He is so good. Praying that you sense God’s power in your life as you continue to trust and follow Him. (even when the temperature in Phoenix hits 115) Blessings Erika!
Hi Tracy, in a little bit different sense, I am now in awe of the little one growing inside of me and realize the treasure God is entrusting me with to raise a child for His glory. Wow! Amazing to watch growth. I look forward to sharing Jesus with our precious little one.
Congratulations on becoming a mommy Karen!:) My heart rejoiced when I heard the news. I praise God for all that He has done in your life. I love your comment and can relate to the awe you are experiencing. Again, the fact that our fragile bodies can house and grow another life IS DEFINITELY PROOF of God’s power within us. (Psalm 139) Blessings as you raise your little one Karen, and thank you for sharing your perspective with us.
Oh Tracy… I love the way you put this. Yes, I am definitely a cardboard box– and I pray I hold something beautiful and valuable for the Lord (He continues to fill me up daily!) The more I grow, the more the duct tape on my “box” is ripped away and others can see what God is doing in me… from the inside out.
Continuing to pray for your life transition!
Thank you Sharita for you comment and for your prayers. It hurts when our duct tape is ripped away, but I know it is done so in “love” (The Lord disciplines those whom He loves-Provervs 3:12). I am also praying that the more God transforms me, the more I would become one of those see-through storage containers, amen?
May you sense God’s power in your life Sharita! Blessings sister 🙂
Morning Tracy Girl!
I just love this real life analogy! It made me smile to hear you share some of your personal truth and how strong God showed up for you! Today, I am a cardboard box along with you my friend… and I’m inviting Him to fill me up to overflowing. Let my packaging be a humble example of His perfection living through me. ~ Blessings as you continue to settle sister, Amy! 🙂
Good evening Amy! It is so freeing to be real with you all. God continues to give me courage-I pray it blesses and honors Him! I love what you wrote: “let my packaging be a humble example of His perfection living through me.” Beautiful Amy, praying the same. Blessings to you as well sister!:)
I have missed reading your blog while you were “on the move” Tracy. I am glad to hear you have arrived safe and sound. I have moved so few times in my 57, almost 58, years on this earth, and it still is one of my least favorite things to do. Yet, here you are, moving many times, and always God is teaching you valuable life lessons to pass on to others. It causes me to really think about how our Lord doesn’t let anything slip by without His purpose in us being accomplished. Maybe it’s time to not fight and struggle against life’s hard times, but to wait with assurance for Jesus to make us more like Him, so we minister to others and the glory goes to Him. Hmmmmmm…..Love you. Praying for all of you, and for what God has for us at this time! Adele
You got it Adele, and said it beautifully-it is time “to not fight and wait with assurance” instead. I also thank you for your prayers. May you sense God’s power in your life my friend. God bless!