This Strange God

2 Corinthians 4:7   For we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, and not from us. 

In general, the human state is one of brokenness and fragility.

Death comes easily; sickness comes easily. We are not nearly as strong as we once might have thought we were. Our flesh is weak, our minds easily influenced and led astray by different teachings and philosophies. We are easily swayed in our thinking. When we face trials of many kinds, we will often be tempted to take short cuts

Jars of clay, that’s what we are.

When jars are dropped, they can break. Life itself can take its toll on jars of clay. The dirty fingerprints of life can be left behind. The handles can be broken off; cracks might appear just from the fact that jars often used will show wear and tear.

It’s the same with our bodies. As we age, our bodies become weaker and open to decay. That’s just a fact of life. The teeth become more brittle, the flesh begins to sag a little and the spine will often begin to curve. The mind too will become dulled.

Strangely, God has chosen us even though our minds and bodies are so fragile. He does not seem to despise us for it. He has chosen the foolish things of this world, people whose propensity it is to make wrong choices; in all their ugliness and openness to decay, to house his glory and his presence. He has chosen the poor in spirit, those who are unable to get it all together; he has chosen the failures and the rejects of society to house his beauty and magnificence.

That is where God seems happiest.

In his wisdom, he has decided to live with the humble of heart and those broken by life.

He has looked upon the great masters of their own destinies; he has seen the bodies that are trim and muscular, sleek and beautiful, rich and successful. He has looked upon the great church leaders and statesmen in all their own pompous human glory. This does not seem to impress him in the least.

Strange God indeed.

This strange God is not looking for this kind of beauty, beauty defined by the standards of this cruel and rejecting world – his search seems to be for hearts broken by life and hearts where hope is no longer. His search is for hearts humbled by life. These hearts darkened by hopelessness, God the Almighty Father has decided to fill with his light, the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ.

My Daily Agreement

It’s God’s desire that I lead a humble life that is healthy, simple, uncluttered from the hurts of the past, unhindered from sin, disentangled from people and things, free from selfish ambition, free from anxiety and stress – following Jesus, loving and being loved – and filled with his grace and kindness – excited at the thought of the future.