an old clay jar

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am a mess.  Fortunately, you do some of your best work in the lives of messy people.  Do that in and through me.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Journal: In what ways are you a mess these days?  How might God use that to reveal his love and his power?  How in touch are you with the treasure you contain?  How can you become more aware of its beauty and its value?

Reflection: I am a mess!  I always have been and will be until the day I die.  But I’m okay with that because this old clay jar contains a treasure.  And I can’t embrace the treasure if I can’t embrace its container.  The jar is somehow an essential part of the equation.  

If I never carry around in my body the death of Jesus, how can the life of Jesus ever be fully revealed in my body?  I can never fully appreciate the risen-ness of Jesus if I try to escape, or discard, my brokenness and need for Jesus.  I must somehow learn to embrace this old clay jar before I can fully appreciate, and reveal, the love and power of the Risen Jesus to a world that’s in as desperate need of him as I am.      

Pray

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me never to hide my messiness or brokenness, because it only gives you the chance to reveal your love and your resurrection power.