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Thrifting and its purpose

If you’ve ever been thrifting, you know that there are times when you search through the store and BAM - there’s a treasure hidden in that store. But it wasn’t right in front of you. It was probably on the back of a shelf, maybe in the bottom of a bin.

Clay pots or jars

What is so precious about a clay pot?

Nothing, and that is the point.

2 Corinthians 4:7 HCSB

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

God, in His infinite wisdom and kindness chose to give us the treasure of the Gospel, the treasure of His Son’s light to live inside us, the clay pots. Ordinary clay pots are exactly that, ordinary. Most people seek to improve the look of a clay pot by painting it, sticking stuff to it, maybe even breaking it and putting it back together with wild-colored glue and mortar.

Now, sometimes we need some glue to fix things. You all may know that if duct tape can’t do it...

It’s always temporary though isn’t it?

Even a plain clay pot made more beautiful by paint and decor doesn’t change the pot’s strength, integrity, or ability to withstand.

Trying to improve or place value in our lives by fixing our outside appearance won’t cut it. In fact, most people look at clay pots and think that fancier pots have greater value.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 HCSB

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Maybe we focus on our afflictions a lot.

Maybe we focus on our outer person and our frailty.

It’s easy to do when it’s an every day thing.

When we grasp the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and realize that we’re just clay pots, we’re in a good place.

When we hold onto that person who has the power to raise us from the dead, the ultimate place of brokenness, we’re in a good place.

I hope can all focus this week on the unseen, even in your afflictions, even in your breaks, and cracking points. Showing God’s power as the foundation on which we stand and the strength which makes us whole.