For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).
Creator God, You who spoke to the darkness and said, "Let there be light" (Genesis 1:3), ["You are] light, and in [You] there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). You have called us "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that [we] may declare the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
We declare Your praises, O Lord! You have made Your wonderful light shine in the dark places of our hearts. You have shown us Your glory in the face of Your Son, Jesus, in whom "the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9).
Lord, help us to grasp the staggering significance of this treasure You have given us! Our "jars of clay" are not worthy of Your honor and Your glory. We are mortal, You are immortal. We are sinful, You are holy. We are chipped, and cracked, and splintered and marred. But in grace and mercy You choose to display Your all-surpassing power in us.
And in Your wisdom, O God, because You know our human hearts, You have taken care to make it clear that the power in us is of You and not of ourselves. You alone are our strength. So help us through the brokenness and the pain of our earthen jars. Give us strength and endurance. Teach us to trust You.
Teach us to "delight in [our] weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 12:10) assured that in our brittle and fragile jars, You dwell in light and power and glory. Assured that in all our failings and our flaws, our struggles and our stumbles, You "give us the light of [Your] knowledge," and You teach us to "walk in the light as [You are] in the light" (1 John 1:7).
Thank You, for Your treasure, Father. Thank You for "Christ in [us], the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Now "to Him who is able to keep [us] from stumbling and to present [us] before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen" (Jude 1:24-25).
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