2 CORINTHIANS 12
I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 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. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 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. 10 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 12:1-10
2 CORINTHIANS 12 A THORN TO KEEP US HUMBLE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Because the Lord loves his elect, he keeps them humble
Since pride is the source of all sins, he keeps us away from it
By allowing weaknesses and helplessness to creep in
It is this thorn in the flesh that helps us seek and need him.
In this letter, Paul talks about the thorn in the flesh in verse 7 that is a messenger of Satan out to harass him. As a human being, Paul also asked God to be removed from him, but the Lord assured him that his grace is sufficient for him to overcome this thorn. The reason that the Lord didn’t remove it from him is so that Paul could stay leaning on God’s grace and not on his own efforts. It is easy for us to ask God to remove discomfort and hardships that we face in our lives, but it is a learning curb for us to keep us humble.
REFLECTION
- Are you able to recognize some thorns in your flesh in your Christian life?
