2 Corinthians 4
Be Still: Jesus, be with me as I read your Word today, let it shape and change and challenge me. Amen
Read: 2 Corinthians 4
'But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.' (v7)
Encounter: Does anyone else ever feel their life is just… pretty ordinary?
Sure, now and then, we might have an exciting weekend plan, a long-awaited holiday, or a special opportunity. But for the most part, our days are filled with regular routines – walking the dog, washing school uniforms, navigating the weekly Aldi shop, or tackling that dreaded job: cleaning out the fridge. These tasks aren’t glamorous, and they rarely feel deeply spiritual or significant.
But I love that this verse from 2 Corinthians reminds us that God can use the ordinary in our lives for extraordinary purposes – for his glory, for the spreading of his message, and as a way for his power to shine through us.
Eugene Peterson phrases it this way in The Message translation:
‘If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.’
We are like simple clay jars – plain, maybe even a bit chipped or worn – but inside, we carry the most precious treasure: the light of Christ. So, whether your life feels messy or monotonous – none of it disqualifies you from being used by God. In fact, it’s often in those ordinary or messy places that his light shines the brightest.
Don’t underestimate the power of a life that looks ordinary on the outside but is filled with the extraordinary presence of Jesus.
Apply: This week, ask God to help you see those ordinary moments – school runs, work tasks, chores – as sacred opportunities for him to shine through you. Pause in those spaces and pray, ‘Jesus, use even this.’ Whether it’s a conversation with a neighbour, patience with your kids, or kindness at the checkout, trust that his extraordinary power is at work in the small, unseen parts of your life.
Devote: Lord, I thank you that you chose to partner with me! Even in what feels like the small and the unseen, I thank you that you want to fill all parts of my life.