6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:6-12
It was 15 minutes into the 2014 FA Cup final - Arsenal were playing terribly and their defence had already leaked 2 wimpy goals. It could have been 3-0 down had it not been for Gibbs' header off the line. Yet the headline next day read "Arsenal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat"! Did the team give up? No, they gradually pulled themselves back into the game, via gritted teeth. They knew that they had the better team, better manager, and, their belief drove them on.
Sometimes I take look in the spiritual mirror and sigh in discontent at what I see of myself. So many flaws and failings, reflected there. It is a temptation to give up in despair!
Truly I am one of God's jars of clay, nothing special, but yet holding the wonder of Jesus in my heart.
We can see this pattern in God's Word too. Many of the "great" Bible characters were flawed people - full of faults - but in spite of that - God was with them and His mighty power was displayed even though they weren't perfect.
This precious passage, quoted above, has been an encouragement to me over the years.
The challenge is to to keep getting up and press forward each and every time I fail.
The light that is in my life isn't self generated. It is God who said to me: "Let light shine" into my spiritual darkness.
I have the better team [great cloud of witnesses] and a "Manager", the Holy Spirit, who transcends all spiritual power, leading me on through my weakness, to victory.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Romans 8:26
So when I'm floored by my own flaws, I need to remind myself that Jesus is my righteousness.
My only recommendation is the via the Cross of Christ.
Fellow believers, we may be flawed, but we're not floored. Get up and keep following Jesus - even more as the Day approaches!
We have more than an FA Cup to win, but the victor's crown:
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Revelation 2:10
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