The Treasure of Excellency in Our Vessel

God “is the One who shined in our hearts to illuminate the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). The next verse tells us, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” We are earthen, clay, vessels but we have a treasure in us.

God puts Himself as the treasure into us to show that “the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us” (2 Cor. 4:7). The following verses describe very difficult situations to show that the power is of God and not of us.

We Christians have this treasure within and manifest it to those around us. The Lord spoke about Paul in Acts 9:15, “this man is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before both the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.” Each one of us is a vessel to bear His name, that is to manifest His person, whether in a lesser or a greater way.

For this manifesting, we follow the example in Matthew 25:4, “the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” We need to be filled with the Spirit (portrayed as the oil in this parable) to manifest Christ. He is the treasure in each one of us today and will be the immense treasure in the corporate vessel of New Jerusalem.

Photo courtesy of NASA.

Posted by Don on July 19, 2024

https://newjerusalem12.wordpress.com/2024/07/19/the-treasure-of-excellency-in-our-vessel/

Editor's Picks

Greg Laurie
Clothing for the Holidays (by Cathe Laurie)
With this holiday devotional, remember who God calls us to be—peaceful, loving, and compassionate.
3 min read
Sharon Jaynes
When Pain Makes You Comfort-Able
Dear friend, God may very well send someone your way who needs a person who understands. No one can help a woman who is struggling with a wayward teenager like the mother who has welcomed a prodigal home.No one can encourage a woman struggling with depression like the woman who has come out of that same darkness and into the light.No one can help a woman struggling with the pain of a shameful past like the woman who has exchanged her tattered sackcloth for a princess’s robe.That’s why your story matters.
4 min read
Sheryl H. Boldt
Does Getting Older Make You Feel Less Useful? - Today Can Be Different
When I consider everything this short phrase could mean for me personally, a stirring desire grows in my soul: to live as if God Himself (the Creator of the universe, the King of kings) is my purpose for living.
3 min read
Chris Carpenter
Renowned Broadway Performer David Gaschen on Bringing New Twist to Nativity Story in 'He Rules the World'
Internationally renowned vocalist and stage performer David Gaschen has made a name for himself far and wide over the last 25 years, most notably for his portrayal of the title character in long-running Broadway show, The Phantom of the Opera.After performing the title character more than 1,000 times in Europe,...
6 min readChristmas Musical David Gaschen Birth of Jesus He Rules the World