Power!

Power!

But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7‭-‬9 AMP

The world focuses on the external without any understanding of how the internal works. The Word focuses on internal first,  because it knows that the internal alwaya affects the external. When I critically assess my life and its priorities, it will be clear to me which one is of utmost importance to me: the internal or the external. Every day, my life will provide insight into the one I consider more important.

God's great treasures are placed in vessels of clay, so that it is clear to the clay that what makes it special isn't its own material but what it carries inside of it. The world projects an image of success and it is all on the outward; God's Word works on the inside first, because once the inner man is secure, the outer man will always make impact. The outer man knows that what makes it tick isn't about how fine it is, but how connected its inner man is.

Pressure, perplexity and persecution all occur on the outside but their effect is actually made on the inside. God wants to build spiritual muscle, where no matter what goes on outside of me, it does not affect my inner stability. God knows that comfort is risky, and I can become complacent when there is no challenge to face. And because God is interested in my eternal impact, He won't let me go to waste and He won't allow me waste His resources or treasures.

And none of those experiences will ever be bigger than the God who lives in me. Physical death is the highest risk to the outer man, but is just a passage to eternal life for the inner man. Nothing down here is so powerful that it can tamper with God's plan and purpose, so I face anything life brings me with the confidence that if God allows it, it is for my benefit and it will only bring out His best in me. Do you hold on to the same confidence? His time of favour is here.