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II Corinthians 12:6-9a “Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given 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.””
Paul had a “thorn in the flesh.” He describes this thorn as a “messenger of Satan” to keep him from thinking too highly of himself. I think we need to point out that the thorn was not from God. It wasn’t something pleasant. It came from the enemy.
Paul asked God three times to take it away. God’s answer was that His grace was sufficient and that His “power was made perfect in weakness.” Paul goes on to say in the last part of verse 9 and all of verse 10, “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Let’s be clear about something, Paul is not saying we should go around bragging about all of our shortcomings, faults and issues. We don’t glorify our problems. What he is saying is that when we allow God to use us, in His strength, we can boast or brag about His power and His ability to bring us through.
When we admit to ourselves, and to God, that we can’t do it on our own, then allow Him to work in us and through us, He gets the Glory, not us.
So are you feeling weak today?
Let God strengthen you.
Be joyful! For the joy of the Lord is our strength!
Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV) “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Great points. Paul’s thorn in the flesh was most likely persecution, based on the context of the previous chapters. So it’s not an excuse or catch-all for any ill or problem that may face us. But regardless, I like how you tied the fact that’s it’s the joy of the Lord that’s our strength in Christ. Amen and amen!
Mel, I totally agree! I don’t think it meant illness, or just the regular stresses of living in the world. He said he suffered “for Christ’s sake,” which to me means persecution and all the circumstances that go along with it. I have heard people say that certain things were their “thorn in the flesh” or their “cross to bear,” that were simply results of poor choices or a lack of faith on their part. That is certainly not what Paul was talking about. I do think that Gods power is available to us in all those daily situations too. If God turns around what the devil means for harm for our good, certainly he can turn around our stupid mistakes as well. That is never a license to sin though. We do our part, obey Him and allow Him to strengthen us when we are weak. That way He gets the Glory. I think that the whole point is admitting that we can’t do anything on our own. We need Him. Paul admitted that he might think too highly of himself without the reminder of His weaknesses. When Paul and Silas were able to sing in the prison, after having been beaten, that was in the strength of God! God bless and thank for giving me the opportunity to clarify that.
Amen. Well said. рџ™‚
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