Tuesday 25 November, 2014

[ursen]

2 Corinthians 4:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

Treasure in clay jars, I like that, yet our "clay jars" contain the results of God's power. It makes so much sense to think of it that way because I did ceramics, or pottery if you will, in college, and I know that the clay jar can only be useful if it relies on the potter's hand. Now let me leave you with the lyrics to "Have Thine Own Way"

1. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

3. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

 

[Kahiel]

I've been pondering this analogy on and off for a while. Back in the day, before I followed the way of the Master, I dabbled in Taoism. One of the things they talk about in Taoism is emptiness and how it's the empty part of the cup which makes the cup useful. The truth of Christ dove tails into this quite well. While the Taoist gets part of the picture, Christ finishes it. Indeed, it is the empty part of the cup, or jar in Paul's analogy, the cup is still useless unless we fill it with something. What you fill it with will determine it's usefulness. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we become a useful tool in the hand of Jesus. If we allow ourselves to be filled with other stuff, things of the flesh or of the world, we cannot be as useful. Be filled with the Holy Spirit.