Our Weakness - His Power

Our Weakness – His Power

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that
this all-surpassing power is from God.
2 Corinthians 4:7

We are called to be ministers of the New Covenant. This means that when we become Christians, we are commissioned by God to be ministers. Some people don’t understand this because they see that in churches we have “ministers” and “lay” people. I believe that the Word of God in 2 Corinthians is trying to tell us that we are all ministers. There was an old quote that said “every member a minister.” This is so true. We are all called to be “the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2 Cor. 2:15).” This does not say that only the paid staff is to be the aroma; but instead, all believers are included in this command and are called to be ministers. This ministry is not an easy ministry. To some we are not a pleasant smell but instead we are a reminder of what they do not have. To others we are going to be a sweet smell reminding them of the promise they have in Christ. The gospel will be difficult for many, while to others it will be an incredible hope.
As we share this gospel outside the walls of our church building, we begin to see very quickly that we are incapable of completing the task that God has given to us on our own. This is where God shines even brighter. In chapter 4, Paul states it like this: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Cor. 4:7).” In Paul’s day, treasures were concealed in clay jars, which had little value or beauty and did not attract attention to themselves or their contents. The jars of clay in this passage represent our human unworthiness. Our total unworthiness reveals the total sufficiency of God. “We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Cor. 4:8-9).” When we go through trials in our lives, we can go through them and still come out victorious in the end. The testimony that this gives to a lost world speaks even greater sometimes than the words that come out of our mouths. As a minister, we need to be aware that God is always on display through us even in the times when we are faced with difficulty.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all.”
2 Cor. 2:16-17

Seek to be a vessel that makes God look great!
Aaron Hodges