davidbowerkingwood

A Moment of Quiet Reflection

I regularly receive devotionals from Pastor Jeff Wells, Senior Pastor at WoodsEdge Community Church. I was particularly touched by this one and wanted others to share in the blessings it has brought to me.

At 87 years of age, I am keenly aware of my jar of clay; it seems to have developed an annoying habit, from time to time, of “cracking” and losing various and assorted parts. I’m reminded of the jars in the painting above, time has taken its toll on my jar too!

I am, nevertheless, equally aware of God’s grace in using it as a channel for his love, grace and mercy to others, who may need reminders of his constant, loving presence in their lives. While my jar is showing its age, it is filled with the beauty, peace and joy of the Lord Jesus Christ!

I have previously written on the impact “Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret” has had on my life; and greatly appreciated the reference to Dr. Taylor. I rejoice in God’s grace in continuing to use this old jar of clay in his service in a manner I would never have even guessed!

The following is a copy of the devotional I received from Jeff Wells:

“September 24

Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Jars of clay.  That suggests frailty, vulnerability, weakness, brokenness, and humanness.

God does not use us in spite of our weakness; God uses us because of our weakness.

In our weakness, God gets all the glory.  God gets all the glory because it is obvious that the power comes from God.  The power does not come from the broken, dirty jars of clay.

In our weakness we recognize our complete dependence upon God.  We are poor in spirit, desperate, humble, and dependent.

God can use people like this, people who recognize how much they need God.

In the book Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, Hudson Taylor, a man used so powerfully by God to bring the gospel to China, was told by a church leader in Scotland, “You must sometimes be tempted to be proud because of the wonderful way God has used you.  I doubt if any man living has had greater honour.”

“On the contrary,” was Taylor’s earnest reply, “I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for him to use, and that he found me.”

God does not use us in spite of our weakness but because of our weakness.

© 2020 WoodsEdge Community Church. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced for any non-commercial use.”

May our gracious and loving Lord continue to bless you and your jar of clay!

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20