2 Corinthians 4: 7-12

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair;    persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not  destroyed. We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too. For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Yeshua’s sake, so that Yeshua’s life also might be  manifested in our mortal bodies. Thus death is at work in us but life in you.

 2 Corinthians (2 Co) 4:7-12 CJB

 The city of Corinth was a ‘freedom city’. A third of the population were slaves, it was a main hub for the slave market. It was a Roman city in Greece that was filled with people of different races. Paul's mission to Corinth was a strategic access to a vibrant multicultural trading community that was open to new ideas and self making. A freed slave could rise in society if he made wealth for himself. Paul a tent maker would have had his stalled to not only sustain his mission but also use it as a base for spreading the good news. What   better way to fan the flames of true freedom than to spread the message to traders from all over the region and beyond.

Pauls message was simple, In order to Be true vessels for God, we have to allow for God to be the driving force. If we are clay vessels that are fragile, plain in appearance And worth nothing, the greatness of the gospel message, the light that removes darkness will be the central message.

Paul reemphasises the message that in order to live a life worthy of the Lord, we are to live the life of the cross the death of Christ and the resurrection of the Christ.

Paul states Death is at work in us but life in you. Through our life God can reveal his power and majesty to those around us only if we allow his power to flow through us. We have to be transparent, we have to be who we are, we have to reveal all our frailties, our brokenness and our blemishes. Only then can others see the true light that is within our lives.

The challenge for each one of us is to be the vessels that God means us to be, ones that allow God to reveal Himself to those who know us intimately and reveal the power that He gives us through us living his resurrection life. Amen.