“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." (2 Cor 4:5-7, ESV)
The power of God is meant for display. Paul pictures our body as a jar of clay into which God has placed the treasure of the gospel. How does this happen? Why does this happen? Paul tells us in verse 6: the reason they preached Christ Jesus as Lord and not themselves was because they saw the glory of God in the face of Christ. Once God reveals the darkness of sin by bringing in the light, who can keep that to themselves?
Part of the beauty of God’s glory is that He is consistent. The same God who shines this light is the same God who created light (Gen 1), the Father of Lights (James 1) who sent His Son to be the Light of the world (Jn 8:12). In other words, our task is not to store the light of His glory, but let His glory be seen through us. We are merely containers. Lanterns, if you will.
He shines through us
“so everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.” (2 Cor 4:7b).
This means we can:
- Be secure: Receive your ministry the way you receive mercy because the way you receive mercy affects the way you give ministry.
- Be sincere (open and honorable): There is no need for secrecy.
- Be straight. No need to distort the Word of God (2 Cor 4:2b).
- Be singular. Preach Christ Jesus as Lord (2 Cor 4:5).
