Clay Jars

I have been enjoying throwing pottery again (not at people but on the potter's wheel). Pottery was one of my majors in college and I have been away from it for a long time. In the studio are many examples for us to better understand the many references to clay, pots, and the potter's house.  Recently God spoke to me through a reference in 2 Corinthians 4:7: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the all surpaassing power is from God and not from us....for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

At our best we are still fragile and unworthy to claim any glory on our own for any deed that has eternal significance. God's power is seen through us when we realize we are but jars of clay. When we are humble.

A piece of pottery must go through muliple firings of increasing heat before it becomes a useful vessel. The firings that we go through in this life make us more fit vessels for God's use. Ultimately our troubles build up for us a weight of glory in eternity.

I need to see trouble for what it is...light and momentary and see eternal reward for what it is..weighty and eternal. The suffering I have experienced does not begin to match what my Lord did for me. I pray that God will use every fire in your life to make you stronger and more fit for Him to use.