But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ≈
2 Corinthians 4:7
Well how was that? Did things gel for you? Did you see some links you have never seen before? I hope so.
I will take you back over it on stilts but there is much more there. You can put the minutiae together. Hint: The more you read it the more you will see in it. Remember the principle of the 70 facets to the gem stone. Keep turning it toward the light!
Is it coincidence that Paul talks about the “plax” almost in the same breath as the “ostraca”? An envelope that is made to be broken to test the genuineness of the inner contents set in juxtaposition with jars of clay that are set aside to be broken so that it can be useful again. Wow. That is truly amazing and deep. Paul isn’t rushing on with new thought after new thought. The whole passage is linked into a theme. It begins at 2:14 and continues to 4:7 and BEYOND. Keep watching for it. He is not finished yet. I am merely standing on a high vantage point in order to point out some features of the landscape we have just walked through and hint at some points of interest coming up. I am a tour guide in a land of Gems.
Note too that Paul has sandwiched in between the plax and the ostraca comments on veiled and unveiledness. Before that he includes comments about our lives being a stink or perfume to others. Do you remember that the alabaster jar had to be broken to get the perfume out? Coming up is inner and outer and clothed and unclothed. Do you think this is all connected or are these just a series of disconnected thoughts of some Jewish guy from the past? Could this all represent sparking gem stones found in the deep structure of God’s Word sent from Him to you through a Jew who wrote it between 2,058 and 2,054 years ago? Yet it is still as fresh and as challenging, as deep and as sparkling as it was when he wrote it at God’s inspiration. Do you think the Bible is boring? You haven’t even begun to dig its depths yet if you can think that. Tell your friends!
A word of advice. Don’t stop with my comments on this passage. Ponder it. In the words of Basil Brown – suck it like a sweetie. Turn the gem stone around and around until you have seen all its facets. It will take a while. Many tell us to meditate on Scripture. It is good when someone points to a passage or a verse for us to meditate on. I am grateful to those who have inputted to my life and helped me see certain things. The best way to do it is inductively. Point me to it and let me come to my own conclusions. Dr Basil Brown would tell as a class while indicating a particular verse – Dig here class. I am doing that for you now. There is something addictive about finding treasure for yourself. No wonder the early gold diggers couldn’t stop. I hope and pray this starts you on a life of mining for gem stones. Take this passage and turn it over and over.
The key pivot points are:
“But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.”
2 Cornthiansi 2:14-15
“Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.”
2 Corinthians 3:3
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18
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
Here is a radical thought. Remember I told you Jewish boys had memorized the Torah by the time of their bar mitzpah. (actually before that – that was the ultimate deadline). What if you memorized this passage? I am going to do it. In other words at the least the four verses above but for a greater challenge you could memorize everything in between 2:14 and 4:7. No compulsion. Up to you. But imagine how much meditating you could do on those verses if you did that. It is a goal I am setting for myself. I am thinking I can’t believe that I haven’t memorized this whole section before now. Now is the time.
I realised the other day when I shared Masks with you that indeed there is a song I need to share with you. It’s an oldie but a goodie. It came to me around the same time I saw the movie on Masada. I began using it in conjunction with sharing the deep truth of 2 Cor 4:7. I even sang it myself on a few occasions – no ipods back then. Those poor people. They are probably still getting over the trauma and the memory of it.
I Finally Appreciate
by Debbie Kerner & Ernie Rettino
I finally appreciate the changes that you’ve made Now I finally understand the price that you paid I fought against you for so long but now I see, The blood that was shed, was shed for me
And I just want to thank you Lord Thank you, Lord for loving me.
Lord I know I’m stubborn and it so hard to get through A shell like mine that has no cracks, but you seem to find a few. And though I was like hardened clay, you held me in your hand. And dashed the vessel to the floor and raised it up again.
And through my broken heart I see, that yours is broken too. And with your love you’re moulding me so I can be like You. Dear Father up in heaven please hurry with the day When my Lord my God my Jesus will wipe my tears away
And I just want to thank you Lord Thank you, Lord for loving me.
The Envelope Of Love Is Stamped With “Kindness” And “Truth”.
Robb Thompson
Though I was like hardened clay, you held me in your hand and dashed the vessel to the floor and raised it up again.
Debbie Kerner
Through my broken heart I see, that yours is broken too and with your love you’re moulding me so I can be like You.
Debbie Kerner