The Gift of Grace

When it comes to famous hymns, there’s none more famous than “Amazing Grace.” John Newton was the author of that hymn. Beloved for generations, the simple tune and powerful lyrics serve as a poignant spark for worship. There may not be a more sublime response to the truth of the gospel than, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”

However, one line in those lyrics used to spark my curiosity: “Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come.”

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, we find Paul trying to help his readers see the glory of our heavenly Father in the dust of everyday experience. That’s what makes a huge difference in this life: seeing things from God’s perspective. Paul was showing that it can be done because God has been revealed in human form through Jesus Christ, the ultimate Treasure in an earthly vessel—flesh and blood. All of God's eternal and infinite glory shined through the humanity of His Son, who was fully human and yet fully divine. Jesus’ enemies saw Him as just another man, but the one true God dwelt behind those eyes.

As the Father dwelt in the Son, the Son dwells within us through the Spirit. We have this treasure, the ministry of Christ, in our “earthly vessels,” our frail and imperfect human bodies.

This is a difficult concept to understand, but Paul always had a handy word picture available. This time, he used the idea of a clay jar. If there was one absolutely ordinary, run-of-the-mill object that everyone in the Middle East could understand, it was a clay jar. Cheap pottery was everywhere and used for everything. The jars were breakable, but it didn’t matter because it was so easy to get another one. Clay earthenware was as common as—well, as the clay beneath one’s feet.

A clay pot had absolutely no value in itself. Everyone knew that. On the other hand, it could hold a priceless pearl, a gold piece, a bite of bread to fend off hunger, a day’s drink of water, a wedding ring, or even a sleeping newborn baby. It wasn’t the jar but the treasure inside that counted.

Clay has its cracks, its heat limit, and its fragility. But it still does the job and holds its precious cargo. “Just think about all that I’ve gone through,” Paul said. Is God any less real because I’ve been beaten and had rocks thrown at me? No—more so to us, because He bears testimony through all these things.”

Dangers, toils, and snares—they just come with the territory. Paul told Timothy he might as well expect to be mistreated because the godly in Christ Jesus are always persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

For all these reasons and more, we need His grace.

If you’re experiencing tough times right now, congratulations! God loves you and has great things ahead for you. Sometimes, His earthen vessels simply need to be heat-treated.

Paul said of his suffering, “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:8–9).

Respond

• Have you accepted God’s free gift of grace? Explain.

Prayer

Precious Savior, thank You for dying on the cross and providing eternal life in heaven. Lead me to someone today who needs to hear about Your gift of grace.