Jars of Clay

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:7

It's April and no where near time to be thinking about Halloween, but this verse made me think about jack-o-lanterns. That's funny, because we don't really "do" Halloween...!

But this verse is a continuation of the passage in 2 Corinthians 3 where Paul is referencing the story of Moses' encounter with God on the mountain. It is one of my favorite stories in the Bible and one of the foundational elements behind this blog - that what would be seen in me is not me but Him.

So Moses had gone up to the mountain to receive the Law from the Lord. He stayed a while (40 days and nights) and then came down shining. The people were frightened by the glowing Moses, but that wonderful glow was just the natural result of time spent in the presence of God. It was not for Moses' glory, but for God's glory. Moses had no agenda here - no dreams of fame for the light in him. He understood that the light had nothing to do with him, but was all about Who he had been with.

So Paul points out that the Light that was reflected in Moses' face is the same Light that inhabits the Christian. It is not a light that we can boast of having turned on. It has nothing to do with us, but rather is all about Who is within us.

As a clay pot that will slip from my hands and shatter into a million pieces, that jar is not what is valuable in showing forth the light. Or like that jack-o-lantern, which may be intricately carved to allow the light to shine through, we understand that the pumpkin is not the source of the light, but is merely the container for the light. The pumpkin will eventually rot but the light source remains...

And so it is that whatever light shines forth from my life is not from me, but radiates from the Spirit of God within me. It is not my light, but His. Not my power, but His power. Only for His glory and never for mine.

...Just a thought...