2 Corinthians 4:7

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

We go through great efforts to hide our valuables, using everything from safes, hidden wall panels and even fake cola cans you can hide in your refrigerator. We arm our houses with alarm systems, fences, locks and guard dogs all to protect our possessions.

But what is the treasure that is mentioned in the scripture above and why is it in a clay jar? While the security options we have today were not available in Biblical times, many of the same principles were implemented. Frequently valuables were hidden in clay jars to throw off potential thieves. But Paul takes a different track here.

The treasure is the Gospel. And in this instance, the human frailty of Paul and other Christians is represented by clay jars. This vital message was carried by normal people, fishermen, tax collectors, and others. These men were not important politicians or military leaders, certainly not what the world would expect. Today, if you wanted to spread an important message, you would seek to enlist the help of a famous person. But in that case, the message would be heard because of the messenger, not the value of the content of the message.

God wants people to believe the truth of Scripture because of Him and not us. So he uses faulty, frail, sinful people like us. The power is His and not ours. So how does it feel to be a jar of clay?

Blessings
Mark

Scripture taken from New International Version (NIV) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Psalm 139:14

Psalm 139:14

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;your works are wonderful,I know that full well.

My father recently had a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery. The day of his bypass surgery, the surgeon gave my daughter and I an update on Dad's progress. The doctor spent a large amount of time explaining, in great detail, how he did the surgery. Now I find this stuff fascinating and as he was describing how they graft veins from other parts of the body onto the heart, I could not help but think about Psalm 139:14. Tiny sutures are used to connect this small blood vessel to the heart. I recently attached a couple of buttons on a shirt but they are already coming off. Dad, good thing you had a real doctor.

God has given us an understanding of how some of the body works. He has also given us insight in how to overcome some of the defects that our bodies develop. His works are wonderful!

Blessings

Mark

Scripture taken from New International Version (NIV) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Jonah

We all know the story of Jonah. From our earliest years in Sunday School, we are told of the man who was swallowed by a great fish for three days and vomited onto land (little boys particularly enjoyed the last part). As we get older, we learn more of the details of this popular story. We learn why Jonah ends up in the fish. We learn where Jonah was supposed to go and where he was actually headed.

Perhaps we are most struck by the miracle of Jonah being swallowed by the fish. But what is the real miracle in the story of Jonah? The real miracle is not that Jonah was swallowed by a fish but rather that there was a fish exactly where Jonah was thrown overboard by his shipmates.

Jonah was to go to Nineveh with a word of prophecy for the people who would eventually enslave Israel. Instead, Jonah heads toward Tarshish, about as far from Nineveh as one can go. And where does the fish "deposit" Jonah? He is left in place to do what God had told him to do in the first place.

Even when we try to thwart God's plans, he makes sure that that his will is done.

Blessings
Mark

Psalm 8

I can't think of a better way to start your day than this.

Psalm 8

For the director of music. According to gittith [a]. A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your gloryabove the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [b]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Footnotes:
Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 8:2 Or strength
Psalm 8:5 Or than God

Enjoy a great day in His presence

Blessings
Mark

Scripture taken from New International Version (NIV) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Psalm 103:12

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Think about the statement above: as far as the east is from the west. Just how far is that distance? The length of the equator is just over 40,000 miles. So let's see…if I travel east along the equator and go 40,000 miles I get to East, correct? I keep going eastward, ever going eastward, eastward, eastward. When do I get to West? Never!

Our sins are as far from us as the east is from the west. Once you have confessed your sin to God, repent and ask forgiveness, you can't take that sin back. He has forgiven it, forever. Now that is a comforting thought for thoroughly sinful people like us.

Blessings
Mark

Scripture taken from New International Version (NIV) Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society