Independence Day?

(I am jumping to chapter 4 because that is where I am studying right now, and what I read today is so appropriate...I will hit chapter 2 and 3 later)

2 Cor.4:7 "For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

Dependence. This isn't the kind of word we like to think about, especially today...Independence Day. Our country was established on the principle of independence. We fought for this. We do not want to be dependent on any other country. We want to rely upon our own ability, our own ingenuity. We seem to have carried this concept into our individual lives. Yet, Paul seems to keep hitting this theme. (See 2 Cor. 3:5) We are dependent upon God. Why? Because we have this treasure. The word for treasure here does not actually mean the valuable stuff that you find in a box. It actually means the box. It means "treasury". A place where treasure is collected. A place where valuable things are saved. In fact, this word for treasure could actually be translated: "casket". We are a casket that is made out of clay. (This is where Jars of Clay got their name. I am sure that the name "Caskets of Clay" would not have gone over very well.) The point is, we are frail, temporary, breakable vessels. We really have no inherant strength. We are, in a word - dependent. Anything that we are able to accomplish is not of us at all. Instead, when God uses us for anything truly valuable, for anything eternal, it is because of His power.

The word for power is dynamite. It is power that is excellent, superior, beyond measure. Paul is getting across the truth that God wants to display His unlimited power through frail human beings. Why? So it is His glory that is on display...not ours. Because clay caskets do not have a lot of power, not a lot of glory. But when they are filled with the power of God, God can do immeasurable things through us so people can see Him.

Dependent...not on ourselves. We will crumble. Dependent instead on the God of the universe who wants to show the world who He is...through us. Amazing.

Think about that one on this Independence Day