Sunday, May 28
Thorns
Scripture: 1 Kings 1-2, 2 Corinthians 12
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 …even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. 8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Observation
This passage raises all kinds of questions and also offers deep encouragement and inspiration.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh—we don’t what it was and scholars have offered at least a half dozen possibilities—was on the one hand “a messenger of Satan to trouble me” and on the other hand was given or allowed by God “so that I would not become arrogant” (2X). It seems that God turns evil to good. Prime example: Jesus suffering on a cross to save the world.
One possibility for the the thorn is Paul’s adversaries. We say that of troublesome people: “He is a thorn in my side.” God uses other people to keep us humble and to drive us to our knees.
Paul prays three times, “Take it away.” Each time the Lord answers, “No. But my grace is sufficient for you.” Again, this echoes Jesus in the garden praying three times, “If it is possible take this cup from me.” Each time, God gave grace and Jesus could say, “Not my will but yours be done.”
Ultimately, God used this in Paul’s life to make him better and stronger. We often ask God to take away the very thing He is using for our good.
Application
What “thorn” am I facing now that makes me pray for relief? Perhaps rather than praying “take it away”, I need to pray “make me stronger.” God’s strength shows up in our weakness. God gives grace to the humble, and He also graciously gives us thorns that make us humble so He can give us grace. It’s all grace.
Today, rather than praying “take it away” I’m going to pray “Make me stronger, make me humble, make me lean into You.”
Prayer: Lord, I love You. Sorry for whining about Your work in my life. Instead, help me to embrace my thorns and weakness as Your chance to make me stronger!