jars of clay

From 2 Corinthians 4: 

⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 

 ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 

I love the honesty in this passage. As a jar of clay, I may not be much to brag about...BUT, at the same time, God is changing me and molding me into who he wants me to be. This journey will demonstrate His power! 

 ¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 

 ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

While taking public transportation to the Mother Teresa Orphanage each morning, I read and reread verses 16-18. I experienced these verses come alive in wonderful ways in Addis, Ethiopia. I am so thankful to be hosting Koni, Yodit and Nebiyu this week. I feel like a lot of experiences are connecting together. 


Lord, give us vision. Help Antje and I see our purpose. Give us clarity. Lord, use us! Here we are! Send us. Help us to blossom where you have planted us! Give us mentors who can teach us and guide us. Who can pray for us and with us. We want to be in your will. We want to be kingdom focused. Teach us how to rest, how to love, how to live in our limits. Lord, I crave intimacy with you!