Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Thursdsy, 19 July 2018 "Instruments of God" by Stefanie Hendrickson - 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living - The Global of the Nazarene's Foundry Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Thursdsy, 19 July 2018 "Instruments of God" by Stefanie Hendrickson - 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. 8 We have all kinds of troubles, but we are not crushed; we are perplexed, yet not in despair; 9 persecuted, yet not abandoned; knocked down, yet not destroyed. 10 We always carry in our bodies the dying of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may be manifested in our bodies too. 11 For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for Yeshua’s sake, so that Yeshua’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies. 12 Thus death is at work in us but life in you.
13 The Tanakh says, “I trusted, therefore I spoke.”[2 Corinthians 4:13 Psalm 116:10] Since we have that same Spirit who enables us to trust, we also trust and therefore speak; 14 because we know that he who raised the Lord Yeshua will also raise us with Yeshua and bring us along with you into his presence. 15 All this is for your sakes, so that as grace flows out to more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to overflow and bring glory to God.
16 This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. 17 For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. 18 We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal. (Complete Jewish Bible)

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Have you ever tried to crush an aluminum can? Perhaps you have used a special tool designed for crushing cans or you have simply tried to stomp on it. Either way, when an aluminum can is crushed, it can not be straightened back into it’s original form.
The church in Corinth struggled to follow Christ and live in a Christlike manner. Undoubtedly Paul was dismayed and saddened by the lack of discipleship in the church. He chastises them, he instructs them, and in today's Scripture he encourages them: we may be weak and frail, but God is our strength and life.
Paul likens his fellow believers to clay jars. Have you ever broken a flower pot or dish? If you ever tried to crush a clay jar, like trying to crush an aluminum can, the results would be disastrous. Rather than simply being smashed down like a crushed can, a clay jar would crumble into bits of clay and dust. And yet, Paul declares that with Christ, we clay jars can be hard pressed but not crushed! Even though we are weak, Christ’s strength in us reveals his life to everyone around us.

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Hymn for Today: "Higher Ground" by Johnson Oatman, Jr..
1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain: Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.Refrain: Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.Refrain: Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”Refrain: Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Thought for Today: Don’t you know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one wins the prize? So then, run to win! (1 Corinthians 9:24)! (Complete Jewish Bible)).

Please pray: That many people in Namibia will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKadosh.

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