2 Corinthians 4: Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
So often as I go forward in this Christian walk, I feel overwhelmed by the need that I see before me. So often, I wonder what can I do? Where is the strength found to minister to a world that seems to be blinded to this great treasure of God’s love which I so graciously have been given? Is there any hope that this frail earthen vessel can shine forth the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to anyone? As I jump out of bed realizing I am late, I overslept and must rush to get the dog walked, the cats fed, and go off to work; what can I say to my listening world that can give them hope? Feeling inadequate because every task at work yesterday seemed to go slower than it should and my work seems to carry into the night, unfinished or at least not where I feel it should be with a sense of being a failure. Who am I to shine any light into a darkened world? Why would God have chosen such a vessel as I for His work? Ahhh, but in that very moment comes the answer. It is only because of the mercy I have received that I faint not. I was chosen for such a time as this not by any great merit of my own; but through His mighty powerful Hand, so that it might be the power of God that shines forth and not my own. It is the very frailty of this earthen vessel that allows it to be broken at times, very strategically so that the great treasure found within might pour out to those around. If I were made of brass, the light of the Gospel hidden inside could not be seen by the world around me. Yet, the cracks, holes and chips that make up this vessel allows the light of Christ to shine forth ever brighter as His Glorious light shines forth. I may at times wonder why He would choose me, but I can be strengthened and assured that He will complete the work He has begun in me by His Strength alone. Look at Hebrews 11 and the great hall of fame for faith that is presented. A deeper study of all of these men by reading the scripture point out that they were some of the most fragile vessels; yet, God did a mighty work through each of them. So if you feel you are too broken for God to use you or that you just don’t have the strength to go on; remember this, (I Corinthians 1:)
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are:
God is on His Throne and He loves you. If you are hearing Him calling your name, run to Him with all your blemishes, all your failures, all your scars and accept His Gift of Mercy and Grace which was bought on the cross where Christ died for you, was resurrected and forever sits at the right hand of the Heavenly Father making intercession for you. Take His Courage, His Hope, His Love, and His Joy to go out to perform His work today. Below is a poem I wrote that I hope sums it up for you. I hope you have time to stick around for the song which I think is incredible, sung by Dennis Jernigan.
The Grace in Which I Stand
Oh feeble heart, Oh fragile soul
Where is the hope on which you hold
With all the failures of your past
Where is the faith to make you bold
Where is the faith to make you bold
There was a King though blameless He
That came to pay my penalty
And in that act He set me free
To follow Him in liberty
To follow Him in liberty
It is His love that drew me out
And in His Grace I shall not doubt
That He who started this work in me
Will finish it with a Glorious Shout
Will finish it with a Glorious Shout
One day the finished work be done
That I might look then like God’s son
Sifted, shined just like pure Gold
As Glory shines forth, Glorious One
As Glory shines forth, Glorious One
And in this hope my faith conformed
I know my life will be transformed
I stand upon this future grace
So for His work my passion warmed
So for His work my passion warmed
So in this faith I firmly stand
That formed in me as God had planned
No force on earth can shake me free
My future held by God’s great hand
My future held by God’s great hand.