Treasure in an earthen vessel

Let me start where my life and everything else started:

“God,

Who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” [2 Corinthians 4:6-7]

The idea of writing a blog has been going through my mind for a while now. I kind of wonder what I would have to tell you, but I am excited to share some of the things I do and learn. Enjoy!

I named this blog “Treasure in an earthen vessel” for a reason. As I will write things about what I do, what I learn from God and how He leads me, you may think this earthen vessel is pretty interesting, or rather weird. But my hope is that anyone who reads my blog will not wonder about the earthen vessel, but about the Treasure that is in it.

Let's look at those two verses in 2 Corinthians 4 again.. It's all about God! God said: “Light shall shine out of darkness”. God shone this Light in my heart. And now I have this Light in me, not to make me look good, but so that the greatness, the power, will clearly be of God. The earthen vessel is just a carrier of that Light.

Christ says in John 8:12: “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” Christ is the Light in me. In Matthew 5:14, He also says about people who follow Him: “You are the light of the world.” Not because all of a sudden the earthen vessel looks better, but because the Light of life, Christ Himself, is in the earthen vessel.

I believe that God is at work in and through me. When it seems that I am strong, it is Christ in me. When it seems that I am loving, it is Christ in me. It seems to be me, because it is me shining forth the Light. But I don't think God wants to give us strength or love. I believe God gives us Himself, and He is our strength and love.

Man, It is so good to know this. It is so good to be redeemed from both 'trying not to sin' and 'trying to do good'. It is good news for anyone who can bear no fruit apart from Christ. (And that's everyone). God wants to let Light shine out of darkness!

Furthermore, I don't know what to expect for this blog. I expect God will give me things to write about. This could be about how He is leading me, or what He is teaching me, it could be short Bible studies, anything really. I don't have an agenda here.

"For once you were darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light." [Ephesians 5:8]