Day 82 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day eighty-two of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. We have completed 1 and 2 Corinthians. (47 down, 19 to go) If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 82 Readings: 1 Corinthians 15:1-Galatians 3:25

Included in today's reading is a marvelous passage that even inspired the name of a Christian musical group:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12, NIV

I have a study note in my Bible that talks about how people would hide their valuables in earthen (clay or terra cotta perhaps) vessels so that thieves would not easily find them. This is not quite what Paul is talking about here. Although the image is a nice familiar thought from which to spring.

Back in the garden of Eden God formed all things. Part of the forming of all things was forming Adam out of the dirt. His name sounds like the Hebrew word for ground. Eve was formed from one of Adam's ribs. Adam and Eve are earthen vessels. As are all of us. We are made out of common elements. The ingredients that form us are nothing special. Yet God chose to form us all in the image of God. The treasure of God's likeness is put into vessels of earth and clay.

We will be pressed upon; hard pressed at times. But we will not be crushed. God's image will persist as will we. We may find life puzzling and confusing at times, perhaps often; and at times even perplexing. But we need not despair. The mysteries of all things are most assuredly no match for the one who created all. We will be treated unfairly and unjustly; perhaps even to the point of being persecuted for our faith. No matter what happens to us, self-inflicted or afflicted from without, God will not abandon us. We will be knocked down and trampled; perhaps even struck down. Mortality will win the day, at some point, in all of our numbered and sin-stained lives. But we will not be destroyed. God's resurrection hope and the empty tomb are our hope as well.

Because we know, honestly, who we are and whose we are we can carry ourselves differently in the world. We can endure the worst the world has to offer. We can turn the other cheek. We can pray for those who hurt us. We can carry a washbasin and towel and wipe the feet of those who walk all over us. We can pray with Jesus "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." And even if they do we can still pray "Father, forgive them anyway."

You see we carry in our earthen frames the truth and hope that this dying world so desperately needs. We can bear life to them.


God, thank you for your abiding love that you shower upon us and invite us to shower upon the world. Amen.