28/01/12

The Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:8,9 - For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


When Christians discuss the Bible there may be many things they will disagree on but there is no conflict between all, that in the whole New Testament after Jesus no man has done greater work for the Kingdom of God more than Paul.

Some days back from historic records I learned the things that happened to Paul during his trip to Roman as a prisoner. The whole event showed the great humility of Paul and no man would believe looking at him at one stage that the greatest battle of this man was pride.

We speak so much about the humility of Paul but this humility did not come to him very easily. Paul was under the grace of God and had easily overcome every other area in his life. He even had the grace not to lead a sister (get married) but dedicate his life fully to the work of the Lord. He never struggled with lust for things, or of the flesh or any other area but for one area which he called a thorn of the flesh and that thorn was pride. This thorn is exposed in his first letter to Corinthians when he was compared to others with regarding his preaching skills. In Acts Luke records how a man fell from a height after falling asleep in Paul preaching. It is another matter that the man was brought to life latter but the Lord got this incident recorded, for us to know the background.

The Lord could have easily put his grace on Paul to overcome pride but did not. Like Paul the Lord also does not take away all the struggle areas of our lives, He will take away almost all areas but there will be at least one area where He will not take it away but will give us all the grace we need to overcome. Like Paul struggled and 3 times earnestly asked the Lord to take it away. He knew his problem and the Lord did always abide to his request every time but with the regards to this problem the Lord wanted him to overcome.

Heaven is the place for overcomers; if the Lord takes away all our problems, then what are we going to overcome? We cannot thank God for our thorn, but we can always remember it is in the process of overcoming our thorn that we become more and more like Jesus. It is our thorn that keeps us humble, keeps us from being overconfident and makes us take pride in the works of Jesus Christ.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, there are many things we have asked for and You have always answered, but there is one area which You know has caused us to fall again and again. We know Lord your grace is on us and it is by your grace we are what we are today. We also know it is only by your grace we will overcome our thorn. Keep us Lord holding on to your grace always and be rooted in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
2 Corintians 12:5-11
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ痴 sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

Acts 20:7-12
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)