And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10, NKJV).
Dear God, how sweet is Your grace! How strengthening! How enabling! Please help us to treasure this precious gift that has been bought at such a great cost. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray and give You thanks. Amen.
Many people guess and even argue about what Paul’s thorn in the flesh might be. The majority seem to believe that it had to do with his poor eyesight. I do not know if that is the case, and frankly, it is not important to me. Whenever I come upon this text my thoughts always go to my own situation as I ask myself, what my thorn in the flesh might be. I believe I know what mine is, but I prefer to think of the grace that God has made available for me to be able to deal with it.
A thorn in the flesh is obviously an impediment of some sort. Something that creates an inefficiency. Something that is there to remind one that he or she is not all that he or she think they are. Therefore, it creates a dependence upon someone stronger than one’s self.
Yesterday I referred to grace as a “fix-it-all.” But that is not a given. Because grace is a gift it has to be accepted by the individual. That is the difference between the victors and the victims. Victors receive it, victims refuse it.
Good for Paul, he looked to God as that Someone stronger than himself and there discovered the marvelous gift called grace. I am so grateful that I too, found the Author of grace and was given a healthy dose. I try to remember this every time someone hurts me in any way. It is not always easy to remember though. As human beings we welcome the good things for ourselves but are not so willing to share them with others. Grace is also a good reminder. You see, grace is undeserved, and therefore, keeps us from boasting. It reminds us that we are as undeserving as the worst person in the world.
It also reminds me that it is God’s strength that I am operating on, not mine! ” ‘ “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in [your] weakness.” ‘ ” (Emphasis provided). The extra good news is that there will always be enough grace for anyone who needs it: “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5: 20b). Thank God for His amazing grace!