2 Corinthians 4:7-9, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—”
Who would put treasure in earthen vessels? Yet, that is exactly what apostle Paul writing by the Holy Spirit is saying that God does: God is undoubtedly the only One who put treasure in earthen vessels (see Genesis 2:7a). The rationale is worth pondering over, namely, in order that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (i.e. earthen vessels/mortals)!
Paul writes:
- we are hard-pressed on every side
- We are perplexed
- We are persecuted
- We are struck down
Most people, if not all, would think that the excellence of the power would be of God when He keeps/protects us from being:
- hard-pressed on every side
- perplexed
- persecuted
- struck down
However, that is not necessarily true. For example, consider Psalm 73:2-5, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men.”….
These verses from Psalm 73 describe the boastful and the wicked as prosperous, with no pangs in their death, but established in their strength. Obviously, they are anything but hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down. Yet they did not ascribe their prosperity and strength to God’s power, did they?
See, the excellence of the power is (seen to be) of God when we are:
- hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
- perplexed, but not in despair;
- persecuted, but not forsaken;
- struck down, but not destroyed
See, God’s keeping me from an incurable sickness, for example, is not as powerful/convincing as God’s healing me of it…..
It means that when you walk with God, being
- hard-pressed on every side will not crush you
- perplexed, you will not slide into despair
- persecuted, God will forsake you
- Struck down, you will not be destroyed
The power (grace) of God is to ensure that you’re not crushed, in despair, forsaken, or destroyed. Your trials become opportunities for the power of God to be made manifest in/through them. It will be evident to all who can see that your survival did not hinge on your skills, strength and wisdom, but exclusively on God’s power.
Accordingly, apostle Paul writes, Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Yes, God will also give life to your mortal bodies (earthen vessels) through His Spirit who dwells in you!
Someone rightly remarked, without test the word testimony would not exist. Yet, the joy inherent to testimony is what makes the test that led to it worth it. Hence, apostle Paul and his team (coworkers) did not complain in the midst of trials but they look beyond them to the purposes of God being fulfilled, that is, the excellence of His power being revealed.
