But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
This year has stamped in our minds exactly how “earthen” our vessels are. My wife’s bout with cancer, the surgery, and subsequent chemotherapy have radically altered our lives and outlook on the future.
Chemotherapy, and the radiation to follow, has become almost our full-time occupation. I praise the Lord for the graciousness of our church, my son’s aid, and God’s mercy so that I can continue ministry through it.
I’ve begun re-evaluating what we might be doing in Christ’s service for the next five to ten years and taking a hard look at what ministry might look like for the next one to five years.
And that’s all good.
Because here’s the thing, the focus of the ministry must never be about the vessel.[1]
- It’s meant to be of temporary service.
- It will only serve me for a few years.
- It will only serve the Lord for a few years.
As prone to hero worship as we are, imagine if our ministers lived longer than they do. We already make more of many of them than we do of the Lord. Imagine if they didn’t break down for a hundred years or more.
If it is well used, a clay pot will develop cracks and have to be replaced. It’s meant to be that way.
It’s the Lord, and not the pot, we long to see glorified.
[1] My body.
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