From Trash to Treasure / 垃圾变宝藏

[Dexu Xia]

From Trash to Treasure

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

The trash man’s house sits atop a steep street in a poor Bogota neighborhood. Not one thing about it looks special. Yet the unassuming abode in Colombia’s capital is home to a free library of 25,000 books—discarded literature that Jose Alberto Gutierrez collected to share with poor children in his community.

Local kids crowd into the house during weekend “library hours.” Prowling through every room, each packed with books, the children recognize the humble home as more than Señor Jose’s house—it’s a priceless treasury.

The same is true for every follower of Christ. We’re made of humble clay—marred by cracks and easily broken. But we’re entrusted by God as a home for His empowering Spirit, who enables us to carry the good news of Christ into a hurting, broken world. It’s a big job for ordinary, fragile people.

“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7), the apostle Paul told his congregation in the ancient city of Corinth. They were a cross section of people from across this region, so many might have been tempted to “go around preaching about [them]selves,” Paul said (v. 5 nlt).

Instead, Paul said, tell others about the priceless One living inside of us. It’s Him and His all-surpassing power that turns our ordinary lives into a priceless treasury.

Reflect & Pray

What does it mean to you that you have a treasure, the Holy Spirit, inside you? How is it comforting to know that He enables us to share the good news?

Jesus, fill up my ordinary life with the power of Your Spirit.

Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.

 

垃圾变宝藏

我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明这莫大的能力，是出于上帝，不是出于我们。-哥林多后书4章7节

在哥伦比亚首都波哥大的贫民区，垃圾清洁工古铁雷斯（Jose Alberto Gutierrez）的家就在一条陡峭街道上，他家的外观没什么特别，但却是个藏书丰富的免费图书馆。古铁雷斯从垃圾堆中收集了25,000本被人丢弃的书籍，让社区中贫困的儿童有书可读。

每到周末的“图书馆时间”，当地的孩子们就会挤进古铁雷斯的家，在每一个堆满书本的房间里找书。对他们而言，这不起眼的地方，藏有各式各样的宝藏。

基督徒不也是如此吗？我们都是由不起眼的陶土所制成，带着裂痕又容易破碎。但上帝却让大有能力的圣灵住在我们里面，使我们有能力把基督的福音带进受伤、破碎的世界里。对平凡又脆弱的人来说，这实在是一项艰巨的任务。

保罗告诉哥林多教会的信徒：“我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明这莫大的能力，是出于上帝，不是出于我们”（哥林多后书4章7节）。这些哥林多的信徒是来自这个区域的各界人士，因此保罗说，有些人可能会想“传自己”（5节）。

保罗清楚表明，我们应向人传扬那位住在我们里面的无价至宝。正是祂和祂莫大的能力，将我们平凡的生命变成无价的宝藏！

主耶稣，求祢以圣灵的大能充满我平凡的生命。

我们有圣灵住在里面，让我们有能力去传讲好消息