Daily EncouragementSample

This verse brings us face to face with the fact that the precious treasure of “the gospel of the glory of Christ” comes in an earthen vessel; it shines in a lamp of clay. No commentator seems to be quite sure which picture the apostle has in mind. Whichever the picture, the point is clear.

Here is an evident truth - all the Lord’s servants are vessels of clay. All are entrusted with the precious deposit of the gospel, and to a greater or lesser extent the power of God is upon them as they share its riches. Nevertheless, they themselves are just “jars of clay.” The interesting thing is that frequently where the power of God is most clearly manifest, there the “clayish” nature of the jars is the most readily apparent. Some of the biographers of pioneer missionaries have done their best to hide the clay!

Here is the encouragement - God chooses to use clay jars. We are not to be discouraged by our obvious “clayishness.“ We should remember that God uses humble vessels when the clay shows through in those whom we have respected as channels of his all-surpassing power. The novice in the work of the Lord needs to learn this, or else he will be put off by the discovery of the “clayishness” of his fellow-workers.