God has placed extraordinary heavenly treasure in ordinary earthen vessels. This is true of every person who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ. The Lord has arranged it this way so that the vessels (you and me) must rely upon the treasure (Jesus Christ), not upon ourselves: “that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” Also, this arrangement is to bring attention and glory to the Lord, not to the vessels.

The Lord is the treasure in the “clay pot” of our redeemed humanity. He is to be the “excellent power” in our lives. He is the one we are to trust in as our strength for daily living. When the battles grow fierce, trust in the Lord. When we need patience or endurance, trust in the Lord. When we need strength for our latter years, trust in the Lord. Even in times of extreme personal weakness, His strength can be especially apparent. “I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2Co 12:9-10).

The temptation is to trust in our “sturdy structure” (or in those who claim to be able to strengthen or reinforce weak vessels). Our personal resources will fail, but the Lord who dwells in our hearts will not fail. The world system with all of its impressive riches calls us to place our confidence in their resources. The Lord warns us that such misplaced trust becomes our downfall. We are to trust the Lord to be our strength. Then, we are to give the Lord glory for the strength He supplies.

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O Lord, the strength of my life, forgive me for relying upon myself and for looking to worldly resources. I want to place all of my trust in Jesus, the treasure who lives within me. May all glory be unto Him, in His mighty name,

Today’s devotion was adapted and edited from “Day By Day Grace” devotional by Bob Hoekstra.