Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,
for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in
the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three
times that it might leave me. And He has
said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so
that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with
distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I
am weak, then I am strong. [2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NAS]
Over the
years, many a debate has taken place over just what that thorn in his flesh was. Some have contended that it was poor eyesight,
based upon a comment he made in his letter to the [Galatians], while others have
leaned toward it being much more obviously spiritual.
Be
assured that it was spiritual. For the
Apostle Paul wanted to be as perfect in all of his own ways as his Lord and
Savior truly is, and it grieved him deeply when he failed to be as such.
Be also
assured that as it was with the Apostle Paul, so has it also been with me. For it grieves me deeply to know just how
naturally unrighteous I truly am—despite understanding more about our Heavenly
Father immeasurable grace than I ever did before He started making Himself real
to me.
I was
given a desire to publish this piece so that it could be of benefit to others after
responding to a personal prayer request in an email yesterday afternoon. It came from a very dear friend of mine, who
desperately wants to quit smoking on account of being asked to serve in a youth
ministry. My response was as follows.
I hope you succeed in your hope
of being able to finally quit smoking, but if it doesn't come within a
reasonable amount of time, please consider: For bodily discipline is only of little
profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for
the present life and also for the life to come.
[1 Timothy 4:8 NAS]
Alas, many have been led to
believe that only those who have cleansed themselves of all unrighteousness can
be servants of our Heavenly Father when the absolute truth of the matter truly
is that He delights in doing great and wonderful things through those who
appear to be weak and foolish in the eyes of this world. For it is written: For what we preach is not ourselves but
Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for
Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light
shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light
for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is
manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the
Messiah). However, we possess this
precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of
earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to
be from God and not from ourselves. [2 Corinthians 4:5-7 AMP]
Besides, who can truly cleanse us
of all unrighteousness aside from Him?
For it is also written: And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brothers and sisters. And those he predestined,
he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also
glorified. What, then, shall we say in
response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave
him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all
things? [Romans 8:28-32 NIV]
Along with: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
[Ephesians 2:10 NAS] As well
as: [Not in
your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in
you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to
work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. [Philippians 2:13 AMP]
Yes, it
may very well be that I am just wanting to drag her down to my own pathetic level—albeit
unintentionally. Ah, but a poisoning of
the blood often comes with having a thorn in the flesh, and one of the
deadliest poisons of all is self-righteousness.
By the
way, the perfect prayer is to ask for His will to be done in all of our lives—regardless
of the consequences. May we all be given
the courage to sincerely offer such a prayer.
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