2 Corinthians 4:7
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing greatness of the power belongs to God and not us."
Today's Prayer Focus
- For the treasure of the gospel of Christ to shine brightly on the parts of us that are weak and broken.
- For a church culture that embraces all people regardless of their limits and liabilities; a culture that sees the value of the weak as well as the strong.
- For friends you know in the church who are feeling overwhelmed by their own limits, or the realities of life—young moms; those experiencing loss of a loved one, a marriage, or a job; all of us when we wrestle with failure; and all who need the love and care of the church family.
- For humility in all of our church ministries, relying on the power of God and not on our having it all together.
"Jars of Clay"
Mike Tilley
It’s quite a miracle that God has chosen to use broken vessels, jars of clay, to advance his work in the world, and to display his power. Over the years, it’s been difficult to bump up against my limits, and I’ve struggled with the tension between the “ideal me” and the “real me.” Only the gospel breaks that prideful fever in me, and restores me to reality and sanity.
I love the many ways that people at Lake Baldwin Church embrace and accept one another in times of weakness. There’s hope when we can weep with those who weep, come alongside those who are suffering loss, and discover the gifts in each person.
The Old Testament story of Ruth is such a picture of this. Ruth had liabilities in her culture: she was a woman, a Moabite, and a widow. But those “weaknesses” became powerful in the hands of God. Bethlehem was changed, and kings came from her, including the King of all kings. Today, if you are feeling tired and weak, if you feel that you don’t measure up, if you feel inadequate, take courage from the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:7. He shows his power in jars of clay.
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.