When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit moves into us to be our comforter and our guide. Do you realize what a treasure this is? We are to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and so we need to realize the opportunity and blessing God is putting in and on us. So today, let’s be the dads who choose to lean in and listen to the Holy Spirit to help us be the dads God calls us to be, the dads our wives need us to be, and the dads our kids need us to be for and to the glory of God!
Treasure Within Us
The Bible describes believers as vessels containing the treasure of God’s Spirit. For example, 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Here, the treasure refers to the presence of God’s Spirit within believers.
Protecting the Treasure
Believers are called to protect this treasure within them by living in obedience to God’s Word and guarding against sin and worldly influences. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV) urges believers to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This implies that spiritual warfare is a reality, and believers must be vigilant in protecting the treasure within them.
Value of the Treasure
The treasure within us, which is the presence of God’s Spirit, is incredibly valuable because it signifies our relationship with God and His power working in and through us. It grants us access to spiritual gifts, wisdom, guidance, and the assurance of salvation. Romans 8:11 (NIV) states, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” This demonstrates the immense value of having the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
Placement Within Fragile Vessels
Despite our fragility as human beings, God chooses to place His treasure within us to demonstrate His power and to fulfill His purposes. This emphasizes the grace and sovereignty of God. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) emphasizes this by describing believers as “jars of clay,” highlighting our weakness and susceptibility to breaking, yet containing the precious treasure of God’s Spirit.
In summary, the treasure within us, which is the presence of God’s Spirit, is immensely valuable and must be protected through obedience to God’s Word and vigilance against sin. Despite our fragility, God chooses to dwell within us to demonstrate His power and fulfill His purposes.
Today’s Devotional:
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to get to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this one for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit: DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: DEFENDING THE TREASURE
Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Let’s be the dads who are choosing to live bold and courageous, realizing that just as those cars with stickers about baby onboard, precious cargo, etc. we know that we have a treasure within us. Let’s lean in and allow God’s power to indwell us and help us to be the dads our wives, kids, and world need us to be. Defending this treasure for the glory of God and the good of our families and world.
Today’s Devotional kicks off with examples of how depending on where we live and the extreme climates, we may need to put an extra layer of protection on our stuff to protect and defend them. They used the case of people’s hot water heater in cold climates tend to get wrapped to help keep the heat in and conserve energy.
Defending the treasure within us from the attacks of this dark world
Today’s Devotional continues speaking to today’s verse from 2 Corinthians 4:7 shared by Paul. It speaks to the importance of this treasure and how we are to protect it, the gospel of the grace of God! Today’s Devotional speaks to how God entrusts it to us, even though we are “subject to the relentless ways of the world and attacks of the devil.” We learn as we continue to read in 2 Corinthians 4:
'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 Corinthians 4:10-12
Remember it’s in and by God’s power not our own
Today’s Devotional closes with this reminder: “Whenever you are feeling the pressures of life, remember that if you are God’s child by faith in Christ, God is committed to protecting the treasure He has deposited in you.”
“A sov’reign Protector I have…and walls of salvation surround the soul He delights to defend.”
AUGUSTUS M. TOPLADY
