Selwyn looks at the following verses of Scripture, and asks: What was Paul’s thorn?
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV): “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It really doesn’t matter – what the thorn was – the main point is – that it was ‘a messenger of Satan – sent to torment Paul’.
Of greater importance is God’s response to Paul’s persistent prayer: God’s grace overcomes anything which Satan may send to torment us.
I think it’s important to be aware that as we work in God’s harvest field – we will need to face the possibility of getting thorns in our hands (or sides). It’s Satan’s attempt to slow us down – to discourage us – to get us to focus on our own situation and to tempt us to take our eyes off of the task which God has has allocated to us.
As with Paul, we need to appeal to God for assistance; and then; to have confidence in His grace – that in our weakness His strength will support us and His love will overcome any painful obstacles - our trust, will enable Him to heal any wounds.
What do you think?
Tags: trust
What was Paul’s thorn
Selwyn looks at the following verses of Scripture, and asks: What was Paul’s thorn?
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV): “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It really doesn’t matter – what the thorn was – the main point is – that it was ‘a messenger of Satan – sent to torment Paul’.
Of greater importance is God’s response to Paul’s persistent prayer: God’s grace overcomes anything which Satan may send to torment us.
I think it’s important to be aware that as we work in God’s harvest field – we will need to face the possibility of getting thorns in our hands (or sides). It’s Satan’s attempt to slow us down – to discourage us – to get us to focus on our own situation and to tempt us to take our eyes off of the task which God has has allocated to us.
As with Paul, we need to appeal to God for assistance; and then; to have confidence in His grace – that in our weakness His strength will support us and His love will overcome any painful obstacles - our trust, will enable Him to heal any wounds.
What do you think?
Tags: trust