Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9
Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Scripture Commentary: Don’t let conceit make you think it’s all about you.
When we are so conceited that we think we can do anything, we have just stepped into Satan’s trap. The apostle Paul may have been in a place in his ministry where it was going so well that he thought it was all about him. This, too, can happen to you and God will have to pull you back and let you see it is not about you.
Paul doesn’t say what his thorn was but in verses 9 and 10 these words appear: weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and finally, difficulties. Paul’s thorn could have been any one of these things; they cover personal, physical, health and mental issues.
The thorn that he had kept him humble and reminded him of his need for constant contact with God.
Paul’s thorn was for him.
Your thorn is for you and only you. My thorn is for me and only me. Although God did not remove Paul’s thorn, He promised to demonstrate His power through Paul.
Each of us has a thorn to bear and God, in using us to spread His gospel, is a reminder of His love for us.
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