I’m a Pot, You’re a Pot – Part Four

“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)

We are depicted as pots. Many characteristics of a pot typify us spiritually.

A useful pot is not dirty. God can use an old pot, an ugly pot, a broken pot, but He will not use a dirty pot. 

I enjoyed orchid culture for a time. I always sanitized a pot before using it. It has to be clean to be used. So must we.

The fanciful stories of King Arthur and the Knights of his Round Table are intriguing. There is a line spoken by Sir Galahad when his strength is noted. He said, “My strength is the strength of ten because my heart is pure.”

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  (II Timothy 2:22).

The difference in the treasure and the pot are noted in order to show human weakness presents no limitation to God’s purpose.

A reading of the limited list of persons who faithfully served the Lord is noted in Hebrews chapter 11. Reading of their exploits is inspiring. We tend to think of these persons as larger than life. They were not. They were people with limits and liabilities like us. The explanation of their achievements is given after a summary of names in Hebrews 11.

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:34).

What a useful pot’s got is revealed in challenging times. 

II Corinthians 4: 8, 9 notes some.

DISTRESS: “We are hard pressed on every side.” Does that have the ring of reality in your life? It is a reference to normal irritations.

An oyster is motivated to produce a pearl by an irritation that comes into its life. Perhaps it is a grain of sand that gets into its shell. The oyster coats the irritant with the best of itself. It continues to lay down layer after layer of coating on the irritant until it becomes a valuable pearl. The oyster giving the best of itself.

PERPLEXITY: “We are perplexed.”  This is a reference to uncertainty about the future. Such a time is a marvelous moment for you as a pot to reveal the Jesus within you.

In those times when you are uncertain about the future, when you have no idea what is coming next, you have an occasion to show forth Christ.

PERSECUTION: “Persecuted.”  This may be physical or verbal persecution.

One of the greatest forms of slavery ever to exist prevails in America today. It is persons, particularly teens, held captive by peer pressure.  The drive to be accepted, approved of, and acknowledged is strong. It takes dramatic courage to stand alone because of a “Thus saith the Lord,” that conflicts with “Thus saith the gang.” It’s a good time to show Who is within you.

STUNNED: “Struck down.”  There are those dramatic moments in life when a sudden and unexpected event gives us a stunning blow. It is a shattering experience. That is a revealing moment. A moment in which to reveal Jesus.