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December 6th

The bible reading today is in 2 Corinthians 10-13.

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:7-10‬ ‭

14 years ago, the apostle Paul was stoned by an angry mob in Lystra of Asia.

I agree with some early commentators who believed that Paul was knocked unconscious for a period of time during the stoning. Scripture says that Paul seemed dead.

Perhaps Paul was given his visions of heaven during his unconsciousness...glorious visions. And perhaps Paul was tempted to be high-minded, arrogant, and conceited because of his new knowledge.

So God, to protect His spiritual leader from losing his spiritual power to prideful boasting, sent messengers of Satan to buffet him...a thorn in his flesh.

What an insight into the leader of the beginning of the church’s missionary endeavors. God blessed Paul with visions that no one else had ever seen. That does not surprise me.

What surprises me is that Paul would fall to the temptation of self-elevation...thinking more highly of himself than he should have.

And God immediately stepped in...He gifted Paul with a preventative...a buffeting...the picture of...the cuffing of a slave...wrists and feet shackled...humiliating to say the least.

God would bring prideful Paul down...bring him low with any number of measures...physical or spiritual...to keep him humble...the place where God gives grace and power to his ambassador.

By the way, let us not miss the part where Paul confessed that he prayed many times for God to remove the thorn in his side...to remove that trial or trouble that harassed him...because they made him weak.

God said no to Paul’s prayer request. He did say, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness.”

So Paul quit praying that prayer. Instead, Paul confessed to his own heart and God’s that he would glory in his weakness so that God’s power could rest on him.

Wow...thanks for sharing Paul...God, help me too.

Have a great day