In this next section of chapter 4, Paul speaks of humanity being likened to clay earthen pots often used to store liquids and grains in. Lets see what is said and what revelation of our being is here. In this section we shall see why the joy over came me a few days ago after explaining the mystery of the cross, our redemption of our own human form in Christ's humanity identification.
2Corinthians 4:7-12 "But we have this treasure in earthen(G3749) vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you." (KJV)
2Corinthians 4:7-12 "But we have this treasure in jars(G3749) of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you." (ESV)
2Corinthians 4:7-12 "And now, in the glow of this gloriuos light and with unveiled faces we discover this treasure where it was hidden all along, in these frail skin-suits made of [1,G3749]clay. We did not invent ourselves; we are GOD's idea to begin with and the dynamic of his doing and amazingly engineered! (The word translated earthen vessels or clay jar is the word [1,G3749] ostrakins, which is from ostrakon and it means "oyster"! It is a great visual picture of how we carry a very valuable pearl within us. The cosmetic value of the clay pot can never compete with the treasure it holds. There is much more to us than what meets the eye! "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in an agricultural field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the entire field." [Matthew 13:44] In order to redeem our minds from the lies that we believed about us, GOD invested all that he has in the redeeming of our original value! Look at 1Peter 1:18-19. He rescued the life of our design. Our inner life hosts this treasure. Jesus said in John 7:37-38, "'If you believe that I am what the Scriptures are all about, you will know that you are what I am all about and rivers of living waters will gush out of your innermost being!'" ) We often feel completely hemmed in on every side but our inner space remains unrestricted; when there seems to be no way out, we escape within! At times we are persecuted to the extreme but we are never abandoned. We are knocked down but not knocked out. Wherever we go, whatever we encounter in our bodies, we bear witness within us of the fact that Jesus died our due death; in this same body, we now exhibit his resurrected life. The fact that we co-died in his death confirms that we are now co-life, co-alive in his resurrection! Our day-to-day experience continues to exhibit that even in the face of death, our association with the death of Jesus already died remains the inspiration of his life made so clearly visible within us. This is in such contrast to the circumstances that we are often faced with." (The Mirror)
The LORD willing we shall close this chapter in our next visitation. Until then may the LORD richly increase you and yours understanding of his hidden treasure the pearl of great price within. I have seen this pearl on three occasions for myself, the first at the age of ten, come out from my center and grow and then return into my being.
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