Yesterday my youngest child and I were putting up cedar branches on our porch with lights and there are some thorns on those branches. Ouch! We got bit by a few but thank God they weren't permanent painful reminders of the 60 minutes we dressed the porch up for Christmas.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 the Apostle Paul is writing to the Corinth Church near Athens about a thorn in his flesh that just will not go away.
“I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message even though I have received wonderful revelations from God. But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a throne in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting me proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NLV)
I have heard several scholars speak on this passage and some say this infirmity was Paul losing his eyesight but as I read it I find it has more to do with issue of pride not some physical infirmity.
Paul’s weakness was his temptation to become prideful or boastful which stems from pride. He speaks of being boastful several times before in the previous verses. (Look at 11:16, 11:21, & 12:1.)
He says in 11: 23 “They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more!” He then goes on to list all the things that have happened to him and then stops as he realizes where his thoughts have taken him and says “I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it. I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message.”
It’s like Paul is realigning his thoughts here… when he says, “But I won’t do it.” He has however has "done it" in a matter of speaking because he wrote it down and sent it to the church of Corinth. Maybe he sent to show the church of Corinth his true colors and he was just as human as they are… I don’t know his reasoning.
Paul then speaks of this “thorn” in his flesh (Verse 12:7) and says it is a messenger from Satan to torment him and keep him from getting proud. (Often in scripture- "thorn" refers to "people" actually being a thorn in our side.
I have heard several scholars speak on this passage and some say this infirmity was Paul losing his eyesight but as I read it I find it has more to do with issue of pride not some physical infirmity.
Paul’s weakness was his temptation to become prideful or boastful which stems from pride. He speaks of being boastful several times before in the previous verses. (Look at 11:16, 11:21, & 12:1.)
He says in 11: 23 “They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more!” He then goes on to list all the things that have happened to him and then stops as he realizes where his thoughts have taken him and says “I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it. I don’t want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message.”
It’s like Paul is realigning his thoughts here… when he says, “But I won’t do it.” He has however has "done it" in a matter of speaking because he wrote it down and sent it to the church of Corinth. Maybe he sent to show the church of Corinth his true colors and he was just as human as they are… I don’t know his reasoning.
Paul then speaks of this “thorn” in his flesh (Verse 12:7) and says it is a messenger from Satan to torment him and keep him from getting proud. (Often in scripture- "thorn" refers to "people" actually being a thorn in our side.
How many times has our own flesh and people's actions tempt us to sin?
A thorn in the Greek is translated as sharp stake. This “stake” isn’t going anywhere. It’s this presence that continually reminds Paul of his human weaknesses (Tendency of wanting to being prideful). So instead letting this dark presence overcome him, God has shown Paul a tool to overcome this "Thorn".
This tool is to bring light to his weaknesses, to be submitted to God rather then his flesh in this thorny trying tempting situations.
Genesis 50:20 says, “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)
God can turn what was for evil for good in our lives if we focus on him. We can be that light for Christ regardless of whom or what we face.
Sometimes it is a challenge to align ourselves with God but as soon as we get on the track that God is on we can move through what we perceived as a challenge or losing battle.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians verse 12:8-9 “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” (NLT)
How often do we plead with God to take some of the thorns from our side away but in the end we see how that thorn has helped change us and become stronger as an individual in Christ? Ever notice how, a Christian, faced with a terminal condition becomes stronger spiritually? Their love becomes more refined. They no longer seem concerned for themselves but others. What changes in a person’s mindset with all the different kinds of thorns in our life?
I would have not become the person I am today and gained the knowledge I have today without some kind diversity, hardship, and challenge in my life.
Final verse: God says to Paul. (I like the New King James translation from the Greek to English better.) 2 Corinthians 12:9 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. (NKJV)
Grace (Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense). When God's grace moves in us through a situation wonders happen in us and often in others as well.
A thorn in the Greek is translated as sharp stake. This “stake” isn’t going anywhere. It’s this presence that continually reminds Paul of his human weaknesses (Tendency of wanting to being prideful). So instead letting this dark presence overcome him, God has shown Paul a tool to overcome this "Thorn".
This tool is to bring light to his weaknesses, to be submitted to God rather then his flesh in this thorny trying tempting situations.
Genesis 50:20 says, “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)
God can turn what was for evil for good in our lives if we focus on him. We can be that light for Christ regardless of whom or what we face.
Sometimes it is a challenge to align ourselves with God but as soon as we get on the track that God is on we can move through what we perceived as a challenge or losing battle.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians verse 12:8-9 “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” (NLT)
How often do we plead with God to take some of the thorns from our side away but in the end we see how that thorn has helped change us and become stronger as an individual in Christ? Ever notice how, a Christian, faced with a terminal condition becomes stronger spiritually? Their love becomes more refined. They no longer seem concerned for themselves but others. What changes in a person’s mindset with all the different kinds of thorns in our life?
I would have not become the person I am today and gained the knowledge I have today without some kind diversity, hardship, and challenge in my life.
Final verse: God says to Paul. (I like the New King James translation from the Greek to English better.) 2 Corinthians 12:9 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. (NKJV)
Grace (Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense). When God's grace moves in us through a situation wonders happen in us and often in others as well.
We submit ourselves to God -our worries, anxieties, troubles, circumstances and/ or oppressions and God’s quiet strength works through us. Paul adds “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
“Rest” in the Greek is to take possession of, to live in, descend upon, to work within and to give help to. Similar the "rest" mentioned in Matthew 11:28 which is translated from the Hebrew word anapauĊ. Which means to keep quiet, be calm and have patient expectation. A “patient expectation” that God is watching over you and is working on your behalf. When you are patient you are often filled with the sense of peace. You are quiet inside. Your mind isn’t racing into dark corners and rabbit holes. It isn't depending on the justifying yourself an/or looking for a sift come back. You are calm.
When something rests upon you, it “overshadows” your life. You don’t "just" see God overseeing what is going on in your life but taking an active role in your life and that he is in charge. And as you let God’s Holy Spirit work within -you see and understand and are more appreciative for God working in your life as you enjoy his peace, comfort/hope, and joy.
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