2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV): But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
As Paul points out very clearly, God chooses to put His power, His strength, in jars of clay, simple human bodies, to show conclusively that the power, the might, the poise, and even the miracles that are seen in them, come not from those being mistreated and persecuted, but from God’s Spirit working in and through them.
If you found a simple clay jar, sealed and whole, and threw it to the ground to break it open, what would you think if it didn’t break – didn’t show the slightest crack? You might inspect it to make sure what it was really made of – plain, baked clay. After a few more unsuccessful attempts at smashing against various hard objects, any of which should be able to damage it, but without it showing a single mark, you might begin to suspect that the secret to its resilience was something extraordinarily strong INSIDE it – something that absorbed the shocks and enabled it to rebound. And you would want to know what that something was!
That is very much what happened with the early Christian martyrs. The powers that be tried to smash and crush them, from the first disciples all the way down through the ages, sometimes by designing especially cruel tortures. These were simple people, simple unadorned clay jars; surely they would not be too hard to break! But they found that their most heinous methods produced no breakage, could draw forth no denials of Christ, no betrayals of Christian brothers or sisters, but only more love, deeper faith, and prayers of forgiveness for their tormentors. Some redoubled their efforts, only to see the same response – the clay would not break!
At some point, some of those engaging in the torture began to understand that the secret was not in the clay, but in what was contained inside; that the secret was not in the caliber of the person who loved and served God, but in the Spirit which He gave to fill every area of their lives.
The truest testimony of who God is and of what He can do comes through the lives of the martyrs, those in every age who suffer pain, mistreatment, and humiliation at the hands of their enemies, and who overcome, not in their own strength, but by His Spirit. Through those who love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). Those who return blessings for curses, proving conclusively to all who see that they are God’s children.
Father, I pray first for those all around the world who are experiencing persecution today for the sake of Jesus. Please strengthen them through and through with Your Holy Spirit, that they will be empowered to endure whatever the enemy throws at them with no cracks, even though they, like us, are made of fragile clay. Give them such a powerful testimony of Your grace and strength in times of suffering that all who mistreat them cannot fail to notice, and that even their patient suffering will produce a harvest of souls for eternity.
Father, I also pray for us who are not currently suffering persecution. It may be that we will be persecuted before long, and far too many of us do not live our lives filled with Your all-surpassing power. Fill us, Lord, BEFORE we need it, so that when persecution comes, we will be strengthened through and through, so that even our suffering glorifies You, and brings forth abundant, eternal fruit. For Your Name’s sake, Amen!