Jars of Clay ~ Valerie Ronald

                                                                                                                             credit: Petr Kratochvil  needpix.com

The park blossoms with bright tents and booths displaying the richly diverse talents of artisans and craftspeople. My favorites are the potter’s works ˗˗ earthenware, stoneware, ceramic and porcelain, each one-of-a-kind. I carefully handle the pieces that interest me, feeling where the potter pressed his thumb into the wet clay on a mug handle, or used her hands to narrow the neck of a vase formed on a potter’s wheel. Functional as well as beautiful, these vessels are designed to hold something important.

Just as we are, according to the Apostle Paul’s metaphor in 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV).

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

What a vivid contrast! The treasure is the incomparably glorious message of the gospel; the jars of clay, our frail human bodies created from dust. God chose us to bear this treasure so that the transcendent character of His power will be clearly seen as coming from Him and not from us. A vessel is open at the top to receive the contents intended for it. When God saves us He fills us with His Spirit. Our posture needs to be open and receptive to His indwelling Spirit so we can pour out the goodness of who He is to others. God does not want the focus to be on the human vessel but rather on the precious gift it contains ˗˗ the message about His Son, given for them. Committed to fragile, common human beings, the gospel treasure shines all the brighter.

As Christian writers, we are not only entrusted with this treasure, we are empowered by it to enlighten others about its transforming truth. Think of yourself as a common clay jar filled to the brim with words ˗˗ words placed there by Jesus Himself. He knew before you were formed in your mother’s womb you would be a writer. He gifted you to put these words together in a unique, appealing way for others to read. The words spilling out of your clay jar are destined to be read by individuals Jesus desires to reach. He wants His treasure wrapped in your voice, in your way of telling a story, in your poetic verses. What we write should draw the reader’s attention to Jesus Himself, not to ourselves. He who is The Word has given us the supreme honor of conveying His gospel through our written words.

Made of clay, we are prone to breakage, often knocked around by the hard hits of life. God knew our fragility when He chose us to bear His message. Writing about our own trials and heartaches gives us opportunity to tell of God’s healing presence and love patching us up again. He knows the cracks and broken clay allow His light to shine out all the brighter.

This treasure we bear is precious beyond measure. We carry the personal and life-giving knowledge of Jesus Christ in our own lives and the good news to share with others. This shows how surpassing is the strength and power of God. Who would want to look at a dusty jar of clay when they need only see beyond it to the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? (2 Cor. 4:6)

Valerie Ronald is a pastor's wife, mother and grandmother 

who enjoys reading, writing and taking photos of the

 beautiful prairies where she lives.