Devotional Day 46

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 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. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Devotional

This passage about the Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh has got to be in the top three most well known verses about grace, and it’s also got to be one of the most used verses when it comes to dealing with sexual sin. And whereas I think it is incredibly helpful for our purposes in overcoming sin, it’s not for the reason that so many tend to jump to.

Paul talks about a few of the wonderful visions and revelations that he has received from the Lord. These visions and revelations were so special, and powerful that it appears as though Paul was at risk of becoming conceited. Therefore, in order to keep him from becoming conceited Paul was given a thorn in his flesh, what this thorn is, we don’t exactly know, as Paul doesn’t say precisely what it was, however he does tell us that the thorn was a tormenting messenger from Satan. So it’s most likely that Paul was battling some serious spiritual warfare that was either the direct attack of a demon, or someone who was doing the work of the enemy in oppressing and opposing Paul.

Unfortunately, many Christians use this verse as a justification for sin. The reason for this is because of a weak interpretation of this passage, in which the thorn is understood as some ‘besetting sin’ that Paul can’t seem to overcome. This interpretation is unhelpful, and very unbiblical for a number of reasons and can cause many people to not deal with sin that has been with them for a long time, shrinking back in defeat exclaiming ‘it’s just my thorn in the flesh’.

This is not a good interpretation for a couple of reasons, one is that Paul taught in Romans that we are not slaves to sin, but rather have been liberated from it’s power by the cross. It seems to contradict his own teaching that there would be one specific sin in his life that refused to bow to the blood of Jesus. Secondly, Paul pleaded with Jesus 3 times to take the thorn away and Jesus said no! How ridiculous to think that Jesus would ever say no to someone sincerely asking for breakthrough from sin. No, the thorn in Paul’s flesh is not some sin but rather some form of trial, tribulation or most likely, opposition from the enemy, which we all face.

Aside from misinterpretations, one of the reasons this verse actually is so helpful is because it answers so many real questions we have in our faith journey. We often wonder why the Lord won’t just take our problems or difficulties away. We know he can take them away, so why doesn’t he? If we are serving God, and are his children, wouldn’t he want to take care of us and make it as easy as possible?

Apparently not. And Paul wrestled with this. Something was going on in his life, some suffering that seemed unnecessary, that the Lord could simply take away if he wanted to. Even so, three times Paul pleaded with Jesus to remove it, and he did not. I can relate. It’s really encouraging to me that I’m not the only one who wrestles with God to make my life better and deal with things that are causing me great difficulty. Have you ever pleaded with God to deal with something, and he has said no?

Jesus’ response to Paul is wonderful, Jesus told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Wow, my grace is sufficient for you. Or in other words, where this struggle has brought lack into your life my grace will fill that gap, making my power perfect in your weakness. Paul then decided to glory in all his weaknesses - for the sake of Christ saying, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Here’s how this verse is a real encouragement in our journey to overcome sin. Even in the midst of personal weaknesses, insults, hardships and difficulties, Jesus is able to work in your life in such a way that these troubles and deficiencies don’t stop what God wants to do in your life but actually give an opportunity for his power to work. When a situation at work is difficult, and always seems to be, then instead of turning to sin, you can ask for God’s grace. When you are wrestling with having a disabled child and you’re at the end of yourself every other day, then what a wonderful thing it is that God’s grace is enough to strengthen and work through you when you’ve got nothing left. Sin is not the thorn, but many other things can be and God will give you grace to deal with them instead of turning to sin. For when we are faced with hardships we have to choose, do I turn to anger, lust, food, workaholism, control or depend on God’s grace so that his power can be perfected in my weakness?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your fatherly tender love. Jesus thank you that you lead me so well, giving me what I need always, even when I’m confused and hurt that you don’t give me what I think I need. I can see how you’ve designed my life so that I need you, so that I would need to depend on your grace. For your sake Jesus I choose to boast about the hardships and weaknesses in my life so that you can get all the glory. Strengthen me with your grace today Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.