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The theme for our reflection is clay jars. Clay jars are fragile containers made from clay and they are mainly used for the storage of various items in the house. We shall meditate on the two facts:
1. We are like clay jars in which God has deposited His treasure for the benefit of the world.
2. God’s grace is sufficient to keep the clay jars unbroken even in challenging or difficult moments.

Dear friend, we are mere clay jars which God has found useful for His glory. He has deposited His treasure or valuable item in us. Paul tells the Corinthians that “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-7) In other words, as fragile as we are, God chose to use us for His purpose and glory therefore He has chosen us as vessels or clay jars to preserve His treasure. The treasure we carry as clay jars is the Gospel or “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Beloved in the Lord, like cheap clay jars found in houses, we are fragile and insignificant yet by the grace of God we have been saved and called to carry the priceless Gospel of salvation to the world. The psalmist says that “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalms 8:3-4). To properly put our status as clay jars in context, Paul reminds us that “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) We have been saved, called or found worthy to be used by God to preach the Gospel solely by His grace and not by anything we have or have done to deserve it.

Beloved in the Lord, God’s grace is sufficient to keep the clay jars unbroken even in challenging or difficult moments. It is for this reason, Paul testifies that “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹ 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. ¹² So death is at work in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12). Dear friend, it is not easy to be used by God as clay jars for His glory but “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). We may face persecution, character assassination, slander, malignment and all forms of opposition like Paul and the other apostles of Jesus Christ but let us be strong in faith and be steadfast, for Jesus has promised that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our status as mere jar clays “show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). With this mighty power at work in us, let us be bold and march forward in faith always ready to “preach the word(Gospel); be ready in season and out of season; (2 Timothy 4:2)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “Clay jars”. We have discovered in our reflection that we are like clay jars in which God has deposited a valuable item, the Gospel, for the benefit of the world. Again, we have discovered that God’s grace is sufficient to keep His servants who are the clay jars unbroken even in challenging or difficult moments. Shalom.

PRAYER
1. Dear friend in the Lord, having read this reflection, let us surrender ourselves into the hands of the Lord to be used as clay jars to store and preach the Gospel for the salvation of many. Let us pray that to be transformed into useful vessels or clay jays to be used for God’s glory.
2. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to protect us against any attacks or persecutions meant to prevent us from fulfilling our God-given mission as clay jars in the world.
3. Let us pray for all those who are genuinely spreading the Gospel in every part of the world. Let us pray for good health and success in all their evangelistic endeavours.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for finding us worthy to be used as clay jars to store your priceless Gospel. Help us to continually preach the Gospel through any means we can and may You continue to guide and protect us on this graceful mission. Amen