Life has gotten a little more difficult lately.
Not phsyically.
For in reality, my life is soo wonderful. So much love in my family. I'm so blessed. My parents spoil me as much as they are able. They protect me. And teach me. And guide me.
I AM blessed.
And I know this.
But sometimes, without warning, my heart hurts.
That's when the spiritual battles begin.
Unable to be explained, except for an unrest festering in my soul.
My parents and I are visiting family in Utah, so my Bible reading and prayer has kind of gone on a back burner. Bad idea, especially when in the midst of a Spiritual battle.
Anyways, the unrest ensued. My heart hurt. And I wasn't seeking the Lord, His help, guidance and comfort. I wasn't taking up my Sword (God's Word) and using it in battle against the evil ones.
But then, I picked up my Bible...
and kept reading it.
1 Corinthians 4 jumped out at me:
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God
and not from ourselves;
we are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed;
perplexed,
but not despairing;
persecuted,
but not forsaken;
struck down
but not destroyed..."
I was feeling unworthy.
And God reminded me that yes, I am unworthy, but He loves me anyway.
I am the earthen vessel from this passage.
Ugly.
Disfigured.
Made out of the crudest of materials.
Used for the most degrading of tasks.
And God uses ME to hold his treasure.
If we go back a bit in the chapter and read the verse right before this passage we can find out what "this" treasure is.
Verse 6, "For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ."
The GLORY of God in the face of Christ.
What a marvelous treasure!
And we, as Christians, have this treasure, kept in our
ugly
disfigured
sinful
earthen vessels.
But...
Why?
Our question is answered in the next verse,
"...so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God
and not from ourselves..."
God knows that we are imperfect. We live in a sinful world. And we are sinful people with dreadfully sinful souls.
And God still uses us.
He wants to use us.
Because when He uses our unworthy, unable selves, His glory shines through.
Heh, because is so obvious to everyone else that it's not US that's done anything good, but only God working through us.
There's SO much more in this passage that I want to breakdown and talk about. But for now, remember, God wants to use you.
I was so encouraged by this.
I am imperfect.
Impatient.
Selfish.
Sinful.
And God, in His goodness and glory still wants to use me for His wondrous purposes.
Be encouraged.
You are an earthen vessel.
But God wants to fill You with the marvelous treasure of His glory in the face of Christ.
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