PJ's Thoughts on Life

We Have These Treasures Inside of Us

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 the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 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. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. - 2 Co 4:6-12

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. - Jn 15:5

For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. - 2 Co 2:15-16

But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. - Mt 13:23

God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. – Col 1:27

A ripe fruit hangs on the branch, aromatic and vibrant, full of color. We are that fruit. Like a child waiting in the womb, we are nourished by the nutrients that flow from the living vine. We wait for that time when we have received full nourishment. We are ready! But, alas, we are nothing more than eye candy until our flesh is broken to release the gifts within us.

We die daily for the nourishment of others. The tearing of pulpy flesh fully releases our fragrance. The sweet savor of His presence waits within for others to taste and see that the Lord is good. We hold the essential building blocks for someone’s life in our fruit. But, only if the flesh is broken.

Even the discards of our shattered state supply a hungry world. Crushed flesh tumbles onto the hungry soil, preparing the way for a new crop. Seeds fall to the revitalized earth, playing the role we have just finished. Flesh breaking, germinating in the good soil, the kernels spark new life that will eventually spread the taste and fragrance of the Lord into all the earth.

All this is made possible by being broken. Understand your brokenness and live!