Verse of the week - II Corinthians 4:7

Sometimes in parenting I do things right, and sometimes I do things wrong. This week as energy in our house came at a premium and sniffles, headaches, earaches and sore throats put every one on edge, my parenting skills left something to be desired. I spoke a little too sternly, reacted a little too quickly, and gave in to my desire to simply not move when arguments could have used a little intervening. At the end of the week, I realized that God still shined in our home.


We shared extra snuggles, stroked fevered foreheads, read lost of books, motivated the yucky-medicine swallowers. But, definitely not in our own strength. I gratefully, amazingly, hold this power of the gospel in this weak earthen vessel I call my body. And, in spite of, and more often, because of its frailty, God's power gets to work.


Paul paints this incredible picture in II Corinthians 4 (the whole chapter is definitely worth reading to get the perspective). Verse seven says, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."


As Christians, God's light has taken up residence in our lives. When our human weakness and sinfulness hinder us, His power trumps our limits.


As Paul further fleshes out details of this at work in II Corinthians 12:9,10, he says that His strength is actually perfected in our weakness. The more cracks in my surface, the more places for Him to shine through.


Not that I seek the weakness, but I seek Him, and more fully each day. As I seek Him, more of myself chips away, and more of Him more fully pours out.


Lord, thank you for living in me. Please keep chipping away, that You may shine through me completely. That those who come in contact with me may first and foremost see You.
~Amen

But we have this treasure in jars of clay,
to show that the surpassing
power belongs to God and not to us.

~II Corinthians 4:7~