TREASURE IN CLAY!
2 Corinthians 4:7 CSB
Now we have this treasure in
clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
Clay is a fascinating and
versatile material! What is Clay?
Clay is a natural material
composed primarily of fine-grained minerals. It forms through the weathering
and erosion of rocks containing feldspar, a common mineral in the Earth's
crust. The uses of clay are incredibly versatile. For thousands of years, clay
has been used to make pottery, tiles, and bricks. It is fundamental in the
creation of both functional and decorative objects. In construction, clay is
used to produce bricks, tiles, and cement, and it also serves as a natural
sealant in ponds and dams. In industry, clay is used in the production of
paper, rubber, and cosmetics. For example, bentonite clay is used in drilling
muds and as a binder in foundry sands.
Most of us played with clay
while growing up, making whatever our imagination could create-even if it was
unrecognizable, we still valued it. In the same way, clay, sand, or dirt that
seems insignificant can become a masterpiece in the hands of the Master.
Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of
the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man
became a living being.”
The clay on its own is not
much use, but the breath of Almighty God in the finished clay work makes it a
treasure beyond value.
Are you looking at your life
and wondering what’s special about you or why God made you? It’s simple: you
are His treasure!
Everyone, without exception,
was made from clay, as stated in Job 33:6b: “I also am formed out of the clay.”
The Lord says He can do
whatever He likes with the clay in Jeremiah 18:5-6. Just as a potter shapes
clay, God can make us into whatever He desires. Isaiah 64:8 affirms,
“We are the work of His hands.”
The properties of clay make
it easy to work with and mould however we choose:
- Plasticity: When wet, clay
is highly plastic, meaning it can be easily shaped and moulded. This property
makes it ideal for pottery and sculpture.
- Value in Content: A
beautifully crafted clay jar may sit unnoticed, but when something precious is
placed inside, its value increases and it becomes noticeable. The content in
the clay jar is the treasure.
-Spiritual Application: We,
as empty clay jars, are mostly valueless until the Spirit of God is poured into
us and the life of Christ shines through us, making us treasured clay.
Clay goes through a hardening
process. When fired at high temperatures, clay undergoes a chemical
transformation, becoming hard and durable. This process is essential in
ceramics and brickmaking. Similarly, the Lord allows us to go through the
“fire” of life, as stated in James 1:2-12. He uses these trials to strengthen
us, make us durable, and help us overcome the enemy
Clay is Poros.
Spiritually, the porosity of
clay symbolizes our vulnerability and capacity to be influenced or contaminated
by sin and the world. Just as a clay pot can easily absorb what it meets, we as
"jars of clay" are susceptible to spiritual and moral influences.
This fragility is also why the apostle Paul emphasizes that the
"treasure" (God’s power and glory) is placed in "jars of
clay"-to show that the power comes from God, not from us in 2 Corinthians
4:7.
This means we need God’s
cleansing and protection always. Since we can easily be contaminated by sin, we
must rely on God to purify and sustain us. Our lives, like clay pots, are
fragile and easily affected, but God’s presence within us is what makes us valuable
and able to fulfil His purpose.
The Divine Power of God is
the treasure inside the clay jars-it represents the gospel and the presence of
God. Despite our weaknesses, God chooses to place His powerful message within
us. The Spirit and the breath of God are the treasure stored in clay jars.
PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for
the valuable treasure you’ve poured into me. May I never take it for granted,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
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SOWING A SEED TO HELP US KEEP DOING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR
GENEROUSITY AND SUPPORT.
SHALOM
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