But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

2 Cor. 4:7

I remember the days when we used to prepare food and store water in earthen vessels. The water remains cool, and the food has an enhanced flavour when done in earthen vessels. In fact, even today, the traditional fish curry is made in earthen vessels. But without any contents, the earthen pots are just that – without much value and easily breakable.

The Bible says that the LORD God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (a living soul or a speaking spirit).

And man becomes precious because he has received the breath of life from God Himself. His life becomes something of a value because of what he has received inside of him.

There is God’s power and there is God’s glory revealed in creation – from lights to firmaments, to sun and the moon and stars, the trees, the fish, the beasts, and all creeping things. And then the man and woman – Adam and Eve. “For yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen”

The Bible also talks about two types of vessels – Vessels of God’s wrath and vessels of God’s mercy.

Romans 9:22-23 reads: What if God, wanting to show His wrath and  to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.

Now you may desire to see God’s power (which is known on vessels of wrath) or desire to see God’s glory that is revealed within the vessels of mercy. Remember this: God has not dealt with us according to what our sins deserve, nor punished us for what our transgressions deserve. For as the heavens are high above the earth, SO GREAT IS HIS MERCY toward those who fear Him. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him and His righteousness to children’s children to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. (Psalm 103)

Even under the Old Covenant Moses prayed: “Please, show me Your glory.” (Exodus 33:18). And God made known His ways to Moses and acts to the children of Israel. Psalms 19:1 says: The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handiwork.

But now under the New Covenant in the blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ, and the death and resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we have a new beginning and revelation of God’s glory. It is Christ in you – the hope of glory. Colossians 1: 27 reads: To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Remember this, that you and I are called as vessels of mercy for God to reveal His glory. We have THIS TREASURE in earthen vessels – our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ we have access by faith into this GRACE in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Amen.