Knowing God and having Him reside within you is a treasure of infinite value.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7
Jesus likened this value to that of a perfect pearl. The collector would readily sell everything he had in order to possess this one matchless pearl ( Matt. 13:45–46). Your relationship with God places an immeasurable value on your life. The treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge are available to you through Christ (Col. 2:2–3). His love now fills you. His incomprehensible peace surrounds your heart and mind (Phil 4:7). When Jesus dwells in your life, everything available to Christ dwells within you (Eph. 3:19).
Paul was comparing our lives with the clay pots commonly used in his day. The contents of the earthen vessels, not the containers themselves, were of great value. The jars would become chipped and broken and would deteriorate over time, but nobody thought of the jar–they were interested in its contents. Paul noted that our great possession is that which God has placed within us. When people focus on us they see a frail, imperfect, and deteriorating vessel. Nothing that comes from our flesh is worthy of praise. Our bodies are aging and losing strength (2 Cor. 4:16). Only as we allow God to fill us and renew our inner self will people see a treasure of immeasurable worth.
Don’t focus on outward appearances and physical strength, for these deteriorate. Rather, allow the Holy Spirit to convince you of the infinite treasure that is within you because of God’s presence.
Excerpts republished with permission from Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby c. 1997 B&H Publishing Group.
Thank you for sharing this GBU
I look forward to this devotion daily for the rest of Advent. I sent it to two family members of whom I pray fervently will open their hearts to it, subscribe and read daily; then, I pray just as fervently that they would be the spiritual leaders of their homes that they are meant to be and guide their family along this path. This family desperately needs something like this to take their admiration and dependence off solely themselves and put God first in their lives. Too many I,I,I,Me,I, Me…aboard and little God. I have prayed too many years, and I am literally letting go if they don’t truly hang on and show God’s love among this family. Anyone else is welcomed to pray for them too, and prayers are cherished. Thank you GBU for doing this at this time. I give all glory to God for the outcome of this devotion.