TITLE: Holding His Treasures By Cyndi Brandon 01/02/07 |
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“Can I help you?” asked Shopkeeper, smiling cheerfully.
“Yes, I’m looking for a jar”, Gentleman stated.
“What will you use it for?” Shopkeeper inquired.
Gentleman smiled, “Treasures, my friend, of the finest sort.”
“Ah” Shopkeeper nodded, then lead his customer down the isle where he kept the sturdiest marble boxes. He held up his very finest specimen, a heavy, beautifully crafted container made secure with a golden hasp and lock. A treasure of finest sort would most assuredly have to be kept in the most secure vessel.
Gentleman just shook His head, “No, not at all what I’m looking for.”
Holding one finger aloft, Shopkeeper turned and took his customer down another isle. This one had thick, strong pottery decorated with bold markings and equally bold colors. Surely, a fine treasure would be safe inside a heavy jar. Safety and beauty, what more could this man want.
Again, Gentleman shook His head, “No, no.” As He turned to leave, His toe bumped against something lying under the bottom shelf. He bent to retrieve the fallen object. His smile luminous as His keen eyes sparkled with interest.
“This one!”, He exclaimed, holding forth a plain brownish-gray plaster jar.
Shopkeeper wrinkled his nose in disgust. “You want THAT one?” Waving away the dust with his hand, “Had I found it before you, I would have thrown it out. Take it!”
Unbelievable, Shopkeeper thought to himself. It didn’t even have a lid to close in this great treasure. “Ha,” he said, under his breath, “Great treasure indeed. Surely He has no treasure.”
Shaking his head in bewilderment, he watched as Gentleman tucked the plain, fragile pot lovingly and protectively under his arm. Gentleman left the pottery shop, whistling and smiling, knowing he had once again chosen the perfect container to hold His treasure.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV) Earthen vessels, crafted from the dust of the earth, have the capacity to hold the greatest treasure ever known. The treasure of treasures! That is ‘the light of the glorious gospel of Christ’. (verse 4) The source and revelation of this treasure of light and power is the Alpha and the Omega, it begins, ends, and is encompassed by Christ our Savior. He is the light, He is the power, we are the vessels.
In the story, Shopkeeper could not imagine anyone wanting such a seemingly worthless jar. In his eyes, there was no strength, no beauty, it wasn’t even a complete vessel. What Shopkeeper and the world cannot see or understand is that the treasure itself is what completes the vessel. As Christ fills us with His glorious gospel, it is His strength that sustains us, the beauty of His holiness that lights our countenance, and makes us whole and complete.
When we are full and that light shines out of us, those whom He draws to light peer inside to find more treasures within the treasure of the gospel. They will find:
Gold of Salvation
Emeralds of Faith
Pearls of Wisdom and Understanding
Onyx of Adversity
Topaz of Humility
Rubies of Hope
Opals of Peace and Contentment
Diamonds of Love
God’s storehouse is full of treasures awaiting willing vessels. Allow Him to fill you from His abundant riches so that the gospel light will shine bright and unabated to light the darkness of this world.
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