Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Jars of Clay

 

Jars of Clay - 2 Corinthians 4

This morning a few things hit me, kind of out of left field. I will start with Paul, and who he was. Today, it hit me that Paul was poor, broken, homeless for the most part, a laborer, and constantly navigating suffering and persecution. As I process this, I honestly ask myself, would I follow this guy? His words are so powerful, and I love his writings and wisdom, but putting myself in these words and letters I am convicted by what our world tells us is worthy and honorable. 

As I reflect on those not honoring thoughts, I can see how the Corinthians found themselves where they were. Here in 2 Cor 4, Paul opens the chapter focused back on ministry and what it is leading a church. 

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy, we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Pauls does this because other preachers in the area were rising up and were better looking, better speakers, wore nicer clothes and more put together. But Paul was reminding them that all that surface stuff doesn’t matter, that the key is bringing God’s message and Word clearly and not distorting or using deception. This message still rings true today, in a world full of shiny things, we need the truth of Jesus. 

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” -2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The message is not our message, and the message is Jesus Christ alone. But here is the kicker - God uses us, the broken and flawed sinner. It’s not about the outside worldly wrapper, and it is about the transformed inner heart that can only be because of God’s glory.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wow! Takes us back to the creation story, in the beginning, God created all things, but before light things were formless and empty. The light was good, God said, and He separated it from the darkness. That is our lives! We are formless and empty, a jar of clay. 

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The treasure of God’s light, His glory is stored inside this empty and formless jar of clay! This is a way to see and show others the power and glory of God. Not in our ability, but in Christ’s alone. 

Paul then goes back into reminder mode and making sure the Corinthians understood this glory, and the miracle of light does not mean a life free of suffering and challenges.

“We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This side of heaven may be hard, but we are not crushed. We are more than conquerors! I read this and translate it to hold our head up, and know that our savior walked through more than we could ever fathom. The power of Jesus is alive in you and me. 

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We may be a jar of clay, eroding, chipped, cracked, and broken; but on the inside, we are being RENEWED DAY BY DAY! 

Let us walk away with this. Today, may we not fix our eyes on the things around us, our circumstances or situations at hand. Move past the troubles and issues of this world, and fix our eyes on Jesus. The unseen and eternal things that matter. Let’s not miss that each day we must be renewed, what are we doing to renew ourselves daily? Start now! 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch