Devotional for Wednesday, June 27, 2018
“But This Beautiful Treasure”
by Dona Hake
It was a Monday morning in North Wales, and we gathered in Arthur Burt’s dining room. I will never forget my trip to North Wales, as we got to sit under this man’s precious ministry and he shared precious and profound words of wisdom to those who were willing to hear. This is what he shared that morning.
“The jewels and pearl are in a jewelry case. This black box holds the pearl. Do people look at the pearl and say, “Oh!!! what a nice box!” This box simply holds the pearl or jewel , and carries and displays its beauty. So we should be as earthen vessels carrying His glory, not seeking for ourselves to be seen.” Arthur Burt
“But this beautiful treasure is contained in us— cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. We are cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but we are not crushed by them. We are bewildered at times, but we do not give in to despair. We are persecuted, but we have not been abandoned. We have been knocked down, but we are not destroyed. We always carry around in our bodies the reality of the brutal death and suffering of Jesus. As a result, His resurrection life rises and reveals its wondrous power in our bodies as well.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 – the Voice translation
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 – the Voice translation
Let us purpose to be those vessels cracked and broken as we humbly submit to our Lord’s hands. It is then that His life changing power will rise up within us, and be seen! That power will leak from us, and His great light and glorious power will affect the seeking hearts in our path.