The deceptive channel 1

2 Corinthians 4:7

It begins with “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”  My wife Jan does not keep jars of clay at the house but we have many clay pots in which we put our outdoor plants.  Those pots are very fragile and easy to break, and the jars of clay represent us and we also are fragile.  Words spoken in anger or frustration can damage us, germs can attack our body, and so does sin, yes we are easily damaged, but we are more than conquerors through the Father who loves us.

Yesterday was one of those days I forgot who I was in Christ, and it was a day of almost total frustration.  I was asked by one of the pastors at Oakwood to build five more stands for outside signs, that call came on the afternoon of Thursday, and I said I do not believe it is possible to have them by Sunday morning.  I agreed that I did not have time to paint them but if at all possible I would get them done.  Thursday afternoon I went to buy the plywood and because they will be outside, I knew they must have at least one coat of paint, and I came home and began to paint, I was finished painting by nine o’clock, and went to bed but could not sleep.

The next morning, I began to listen to what I call the deceptive channel 1, and it began to ask questions, did he once ask if you had plans, did he care or just want the signs?  I entertained those thoughts and much more and it was hot in our garage down on that floor and you guessed it, I had all kinds of problems.  At 2 p.m. I was going back to home depot for stuff I needed, and still listening to channel one.  Did I tell you I was very blunt and not loving in my response to my bride, my clay jar was in need of help? 

 As I lay in bed around 10:30 in the p. m., I began to reflect on how easy it was to be set-up by channel one, I had a choice on Thursday to say no, but one of my flesh patterns is I like to please, and I like praise, so I said yes, but not with the right heart attitude.  I was not setting my mind on the treasures I have in Christ, and anyone looking knew I was not more than a conqueror I was full of self-defeat.

Paul must have had some days like this, look at Romans 8:31-39, we have this reminder of who we are in Christ and He in us.  “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake, we are being killed all the day long;
 we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

One last confession, I was not asking the Helper for help, I knew how to build those blasted stands, but after hours of putting together and taking apart, I cried out for help, and guess what it came, and I began to put them together, and I finished this morning and have most of my Saturday to do projects I had planned for this weekend.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice