Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9

⁷ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. ⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.⁹ 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.

Scripture Commentary: God’s grace is sufficient in every circumstance.

Paul makes a request in 2 Corinthians 12: 7-8. Paul’s infirmity is getting to him. In verse 9 God tells Paul that He gives him grace to weather the challenge.

Do you have a problem you can’t fix?

Is there something keeping you up at night? There are things in our lives that we cannot solve and we have to give it to God. But even then, it stays with us. Why is that?

Could God be telling you that the problem is not important and that you need to accept His grace and move forward? In the second part of verse 9, Paul acknowledges that the infirmity will not keep him from doing God’s work. He will move forward with the assignment God gave him.

What is your assignment? Are you stuck and making excuses? Life has its ups and downs but God is constant. He will not give you more than you can handle.

God tells Paul what He will and will not do. Paul accepts God’s message. Talk to God and listen to His reply.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Corinthians 12

Read Other Commentary From the Book of 2 Corinthians:

Do Not Despair; God Is With You

Believers Spread the Aroma of the Knowledge of God

Scripture: John 9: 1-6

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. ² “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” ³ “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. ⁴ We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.^[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work. ⁵ But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. ⁷ He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

Scripture Commentary: So why did Jesus spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes?

This is the sixth out of seven miracles recorded in the Book of John. Of the seven this is the only one where Jesus touches someone. (Jesus just spoke the Word to perform the other six miracles.) So why did Jesus spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes?

There are four different responses outlined for this miracle. They are as follows:

1. The people were skeptical.
2. The Pharisees showed prejudice toward Jesus.
3. The man’s parents were fearful of the reaction of the Jewish leaders.

But, here is the fourth response…

4. The blind man’s faith is growing.

The miracle is for all who believe.

When the Pharisees questioned the blind man, he answered that a man named Jesus healed him. The miracle wasn’t just for the man. It was for those around him and for us today.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive today? Miracles happen every day because the Holy Spirit lives with us. Believe that God is with you today, tomorrow, and for eternity.

Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 9

Read Other Commentary on John 9:

Jesus Heals the Blind

I Once Was Blind But Now I See

Are You Spiritually Blind?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12: 1-3

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. ² The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. ³ The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 

Scripture Commentary:

On the surface this story is about two men, one rich and one poor; however, the real story is about a king who had everything. And out of sin and lust of the flesh, he took another man’s wife and had that man killed to cover his sin.

When you bring this story into today, there are people who have more than they need but their thirst for more is never quenched. They don’t care who they hurt or destroy. Do you know anyone who fits this description?

When Nathan tells David this story, could he also be referring to us? Nathan was required to confront sin as a prophet. We don’t have Nathan with us today but we do have God’s Holy Spirit.

What does God’s Holy Spirit tell you when you are wrong? Do you listen or do you ignore it? David repented and God forgave.

Have you repented your sins?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Samuel 12

Read Other Commentary From the Book of 2 Samuel:

What Can We Learn From David’s Sin?

God Is the Shield of My Salvation