Today’s Encouragement is, “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.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
This Makes It Clear –
“We now have” – Already, presently.
the light of the good news (v4) of Jesus –
shining in our hearts.
We don’t shine because we are like fragile clay pots. But His good news shines in us, within our hearts, and out from our hearts and lives.
Why are we like fragile clay, easily cracked and broken, common, ordinary humans with flaws, problems, and needs? Like sheep in constant need of a shepherd?
To make it clear –
that “our great power,” which is the Light of Jesus, Love, kindness, compassion, wisdom, and truth of the Good News, is not from us! But these characteristics of His Light are from God, shining through us (fragile clay, sheep-like humans) for the purpose of clearly showing that it is Him, not us.
When we are honest, we can admit that we want to be more than sheep, more than just ordinary clay pots. We want to be strong, powerful, wise, and successful in everything, including in our Christian faith. But God’s word repeatedly exposes the truth. We are not enough; we need a Savior. We are useless, fragile clay pots without His light, His life, shining within us.
But with Him, shining in our hearts, we “make it clear” that anything good in us is His power, not ours.
Thank You, Father, for clearly, yet gently, demonstrating the truth that we can do nothing in our own strength (John 15:5), but that the light of Christ will shine through our ordinary lives.
Christ Be Magnified
Cody Carnes
https://youtu.be/jjGMlYywK9M?is=tVTaf4Dks5CYyLsk