June 9
“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,” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.
The apostle Paul had discussed the subject of boasting or bragging with the Corinthians. If anyone wanted to boast about who they were, what they had done, or what they endured for the sake of the Gospel, Paul was able to point out to them that he had more things about which to boast than most of his hearers. Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, in which Paul speaks of who he was and what he endured as the apostle of Jesus.
However, Paul realized that boasting and bragging about what one had accomplished would not build the kingdom of God. Paul recognized the danger of being “exalted above measure.” He recognized that, as a human being, he could be tempted to become haughty and proud because of all of the things that were being done by God through him. He could be tempted to become proud because of the special revelations and privileges that God gave him. He ended up speaking about his humility and weaknesses. He acknowledged the fact that God blessed him by keeping him humble.
To keep him as a humble, believing Christian and as the faithful apostle of the Gospel, God gave him “a thorn in the flesh,” which he describes with the words, “a messenger of Satan to buffet me.” God permitted the devil to cause some horrible, piercing pain to the body of the apostle. It appears not to have been a constant pain, but one that came to “buffet” him – that is, it came periodically in blows. Paul does not elaborate further on any details in Scripture, so exactly what that thorn in the flesh was, we do not know. Various Bible readers have expressed various opinions, but that is all that their expressions are – personal opinions!
Paul expresses the purpose of the thorn in the flesh with the words, “Lest I be exalted above measure.” It was to keep the apostle humble. However, at times the pain was so severe that Paul pleaded with God, “three times,” that the “thorn in the flesh” might be removed from him. God’s response to Paul’s plea was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul was told to be satisfied with the assurance of God’s grace – the assurance of the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ Jesus, his Savior. Trusting in the assurance of the forgiveness of sins, he was made a child of God.
With God’s grace and mercy, we are enabled to deal with “the thorns in the flesh” that come our way. With God’s grace, mercy, and blessing we are strengthened and enabled to carry the burdens of this life. Through the Gospel we are brought to faith, and we have God’s promise to keep us in the faith. Through the Gospel of God’s love revealed in Christ Jesus, who suffered, died, and rose again to redeem us, we are able to say with the apostle Paul, “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me!”
We pray, “Lord, help me bear my burdens in life, as I remember the burdens Jesus bore to redeem me from sin, death, and the power of the devil! Amen!”
“What God ordains is always good;
His will abideth holy.
As He directs my life for me,
I follow, meek and lowly.
My God indeed in every need
Doth well know how to shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.” Amen.