Jesus said that at the end of the age, God will separate the sheep from the goats. Those who don’t recognize Christ (the goats) have been blinded by the “god” of this world. They don’t hear the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd is…God’s glorious Son, Christ Jesus the Lord.

The fragile shell of our human body may not be glorious, in fact it may crack under pressure. The good news (although hidden from those on the broad path to destruction) is that God’s glorious treasure is found within all who are chosen by Him. #sheep

We have a pastoral print in our dining room picturing sheep grazing peacefully on a hillside. Occasionally, my husband will look at it and say “you’re beautiful”. It reminds us of the shepherds in New Zealand who care tenderly for their flocks, even speaking to each individually-calling them beautiful. That’s how God sees each one of us. We may be in need of a shepherd but we also have the capacity to know His voice. #faith

Thankfully, Paul never gave up speaking about this good news, the gospel. It was a ministry of love that was all-consuming. Paul himself describes it as God’s merciful way, having experienced its transforming power on the road to Damascus.

Instead of murdering the Christians, Paul became one of them. #theway

If you’re feeling fragile today, remember Paul’s example and let the light of God’s treasure shine through. -Teresa

#forHisglory

2 Corinthians 4:1-7 (NLT)

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

4 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,^[a] we never give up. ² We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

³ If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. ⁴ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

⁵ You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

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

Footnotes

1. 4:1 Or ministry.
2. 4:7 Greek We now have this treasure in clay jars.