Handle With Care
Handle With Care
How God Uses Fragile People to Carry Eternal Glory
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT):
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
What a powerful image... fragile jars, holding eternal treasure.
The Treasure Is Not You, But It’s In You!
The “treasure” that Paul speaks of is the light of Jesus Christ—the knowledge of His glory, His presence, His Spirit. And the container? Clay jars. Not golden chalices. Not flawless vessels. Just common, fragile pottery.
In Paul’s day, clay jars were inexpensive, replaceable, and often used for waste or storage—not for showcasing treasure. That’s the whole point. The beauty of the gospel is that God doesn’t need impressive containers, He uses surrendered ones.
This is the heart of humility: I am not the treasure. I am a vessel, carrying the treasure. And that means the goal of my life isn’t to be admired, it’s to be useful.
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
What a powerful image... fragile jars, holding eternal treasure.
The Treasure Is Not You, But It’s In You!
The “treasure” that Paul speaks of is the light of Jesus Christ—the knowledge of His glory, His presence, His Spirit. And the container? Clay jars. Not golden chalices. Not flawless vessels. Just common, fragile pottery.
In Paul’s day, clay jars were inexpensive, replaceable, and often used for waste or storage—not for showcasing treasure. That’s the whole point. The beauty of the gospel is that God doesn’t need impressive containers, He uses surrendered ones.
This is the heart of humility: I am not the treasure. I am a vessel, carrying the treasure. And that means the goal of my life isn’t to be admired, it’s to be useful.
So, How Do I Become a Vessel God Can Use?
1. Empty the Mug – Daily Cleaning Is Required
No one uses a dirty mug for fresh coffee. Likewise, God desires clean vessels, lives that are free from habitual sin, pride, and spiritual apathy.
1 John 1:9 (NLT) says:
“If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
It isn't about perfection, but He does desire surrender and repentance. We must come before Him regularly, asking Him to clean the inside of our hearts. Like David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God… point out anything in me that offends You.”
What do I do?
• Make confession a daily habit.
• Ask God: “What’s in my cup that doesn’t belong?”
• Let the Holy Spirit scrub out what’s been stuck at the bottom for too long..... bitterness, pride, lust, jealousy, laziness.
2. Set It Aside – This Cup Belongs to the Master
When something is valuable, you set it apart for special use. That’s what it means to be holy. Holiness isn’t outdated, it’s being intentionally different because you belong to Someone different.
1 Peter 1:15–16 (NLT) reminds us:
“Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”
God is more concerned with your holiness than your happiness. That’s not because He doesn’t care about your joy, but because He knows that true joy comes from being filled with, and walking in the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 (NKJV):
“This is the will of God, your sanctification: that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”
What do I do?
• Don’t let the world handle what belongs to God.
• Guard your eyes, your heart, your time because your cup is sacred.
• Ask yourself daily: Is this filling my life with something holy or harmful?
3. Don’t Just Run From Sin—Run Toward Good
2 Timothy 2:22 says:
“Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace…”
When it comes certain sins like lust, God’s advice isn’t to “fight it” but to flee it. Get your vessel out of that environment. Temptation loses power when you’re not there to hear its voice.
But don’t just run away, run toward what is good. Fill your life so fully with Christlike qualities that there’s no room for compromise.
Romans 12:21 (NKJV) echoes this truth:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
What do I do?
• Don’t just say “no” to sin, say “yes” to something better.
• Plug into a community of people pursuing the Lord.
• Replace time spent on toxic input (media, gossip, old habits) with Scripture, worship, and godly friendships.
Even Broken Mugs Can Be Cleaned And Restored!
Sometimes we don’t feel usable. We’ve let things fill our lives that have left us stained. Maybe you’ve put yourself back on the shelf, thinking, “God can’t use this cup anymore.” But here’s the good news:
Titus 3:3–5 (NLT):
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
You’re never too broken, too far gone, or too messy for God. If you’re willing to be washed, God is willing to use you.
No one uses a dirty mug for fresh coffee. Likewise, God desires clean vessels, lives that are free from habitual sin, pride, and spiritual apathy.
1 John 1:9 (NLT) says:
“If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
It isn't about perfection, but He does desire surrender and repentance. We must come before Him regularly, asking Him to clean the inside of our hearts. Like David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God… point out anything in me that offends You.”
What do I do?
• Make confession a daily habit.
• Ask God: “What’s in my cup that doesn’t belong?”
• Let the Holy Spirit scrub out what’s been stuck at the bottom for too long..... bitterness, pride, lust, jealousy, laziness.
2. Set It Aside – This Cup Belongs to the Master
When something is valuable, you set it apart for special use. That’s what it means to be holy. Holiness isn’t outdated, it’s being intentionally different because you belong to Someone different.
1 Peter 1:15–16 (NLT) reminds us:
“Now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.”
God is more concerned with your holiness than your happiness. That’s not because He doesn’t care about your joy, but because He knows that true joy comes from being filled with, and walking in the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 (NKJV):
“This is the will of God, your sanctification: that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”
What do I do?
• Don’t let the world handle what belongs to God.
• Guard your eyes, your heart, your time because your cup is sacred.
• Ask yourself daily: Is this filling my life with something holy or harmful?
3. Don’t Just Run From Sin—Run Toward Good
2 Timothy 2:22 says:
“Flee youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace…”
When it comes certain sins like lust, God’s advice isn’t to “fight it” but to flee it. Get your vessel out of that environment. Temptation loses power when you’re not there to hear its voice.
But don’t just run away, run toward what is good. Fill your life so fully with Christlike qualities that there’s no room for compromise.
Romans 12:21 (NKJV) echoes this truth:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
What do I do?
• Don’t just say “no” to sin, say “yes” to something better.
• Plug into a community of people pursuing the Lord.
• Replace time spent on toxic input (media, gossip, old habits) with Scripture, worship, and godly friendships.
Even Broken Mugs Can Be Cleaned And Restored!
Sometimes we don’t feel usable. We’ve let things fill our lives that have left us stained. Maybe you’ve put yourself back on the shelf, thinking, “God can’t use this cup anymore.” But here’s the good news:
Titus 3:3–5 (NLT):
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
You’re never too broken, too far gone, or too messy for God. If you’re willing to be washed, God is willing to use you.
Posted in The Well - Devotions From High Pointe
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