‘Of God and Not of Us’

‘Of God and Not of Us’

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

II Corinthians 4:7

Why has God, in His Infinite Wisdom, arranged for the Gospel to spread abroad in the hands of such a motley crew? As the Apostle Paul closes our text for the past few days, he sets forth the answer to that question. He says that the Treasure of the Gospel Message has landed in these ‘jars of clay,’ these ‘earthen vessels’ in order that, ‘the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us.’ Herein lies a humbling, but glorious truth. Just as we, poor wretched sinners deserve no credit for our salvation, so also, we deserve no credit for the powerful effect of the Gospel message upon those who receive it. In every generation God has raised up these ‘jars of clay’ to sound forth the glorious message of Jesus Christ. They have been a ragtag army who have preached not themselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord. The world has derided them. Religionists have opposed them. Dictators have imprisoned and executed them, yet these ‘jars of clay’ have been the humble instruments in the Hands of the Almighty God and He has used them to change the world. In all of that, Christ has gained the Glory, and the ‘earthen vessels’ would not have it any other way, ‘that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.’ Today, let us go forth to our little portion of the vineyard in hopes that Christ will make use of us for His Eternal Glory.

‘Great God of Wonders, all Your ways are matchless, God-like, and Divine.’
We praise You that You use us for Your Honor
and for Your Glory to spread forth your Truth.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning