Don't you love Paul?
I love his dramatic conversion - I love his story! Can't wait to sit and chat with Paul one day!
Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth - Chapter 12 is called "Paul's Vision and His Thorn" or my Spurgeon Bible calls it "Sufficient Grace".
I think we have to start this one out defining some key words so we can sit in the hugeness of these verses.
Grace = God's favor toward the unworthy.
Weakness = lacking strength (not only physical, but mental as well).
Sufficient = enough, adequate, ample, plentiful.
Perfected = making something completely free from faults or defects.
We also have to look back at what has happened before these two verses - in verses 1-4 Paul is telling us about visions and revelations he was given......
Verse 4 - I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
He tells us this experience is worth boasting about but he won't do it because he doesn't want any credit.
In verses 7 and 8 he tells us that a messenger from Satan was sent to torment him to keep him from becoming proud, arrogant, full of himself - he was given a thorn in his flesh. He begged God 3 times to remove it - the NIV says he pleaded with the Lord.
Some think that Paul is using a Hebrew figure of speech that really means much more than three times. That does not mean three times, it's the Hebrew figure for ceaselessly, continuously, over and over again. - Morgan
Then we arrive at our focus verses, 9 and 10 - I love the NLT.....
Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
First of all - what the heck was the thorn?!
When you think of a thorn, its just a small thing but - the root word Paul used for thorn describes a tent stake.
Commentaries say that some of the earliest guesses as to what Paul's thorn in the flesh were - an earache or headache - spiritual harassment - persecutions - mental ailment - a struggle with lustful and sinful thoughts. They say that people knew something was wrong, they could look at him and tell.
I don't know why but I picture Paul walking with a limp and having a walking stick - and yelling a lot. Because a messenger of Satan was sent to torment him, it really makes me think it was a mental thing.....like dude was constantly yammering on in his ear, driving him crazy.
Isn't it fascinating to see how God works? This messenger from Satan wasn't allowed to torment Paul without God's permission. Though Paul was super great and doing what he was called to do, God could see how Paul could change, becoming full of himself. THEN think of how history would have changed if Paul had changed! Think of all the believers there are in the world because of Paul and his mission!
Don't you think that from then on that Paul was constantly face flat praying?
Anything is a blessing that makes us pray. - Spurgeon
God's promise is "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness."
God's grace could meet Paul's need because it was available all the time!
Grace could meet Paul's need because it was the very strength of God!
The grace God gave Paul was sufficient to meet his every need!
Paul had to believe that God's grace is sufficient.
Suddenly - Paul's perspective changed and he was happy to brag about his weaknesses. He got it, it clicked, he felt it! Instead of removing the thorn, God strengthened Paul!
We really don't believe God's grace is sufficient until we believe that we are insufficient.
We can't receive God's strength til we know our weakness.
I will be honest with you - I am struggling to bring this one full circle. It's hard ya know - so hard to be human! If you are like me, when you are sick or down, ya tend to waller in it. Waller cannot be found in the dictionary by the way. If you are from Kentucky you understand what I am saying - if you are not, its like what pigs do, waller. So, like a pig wallers in poo.....I am gonna waller in my headache or bad work day or a comment someone made to me.....you fill in that blank.
But hold the line dear one - God has a promise for us!! His grace is all we need in the difficult times......oh and there will be difficult times - but His grace is always there, it never ever runs out and it is available at all times in all situations! He will make us strong and hold us up in even the most horrible times. He has a plan and a purpose and they are always - ALWAYS good! Praise Him!
Yahweh, please help us to see our thorns in light of Your glorious purposes. Thank You for Your unending grace!
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