April 26, 2000

Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

 

“A thorn in the flesh was given to me” (7)

 

What this particular “thorn in the flesh” was, Paul does not tell us. There is great wisdom in not revealing the specifics of this problem for we would then be tempted to limit this spiritual truth to that specific instance. Rather, we are left to wonder and to apply the principle to our own experience.

When Christians becomes discouraged and consider themselves failures, it is often because they cannot shake certain things from their lives. Things that are a continual temptation, things that we know are sinful and therefore displeasing to God. We pray time and again that God will remove this ‘thing’ from our life but He doesn’t do it. Paul pleaded with the Lord three times for this “thorn” to be removed from him but God left it there. Not that the “thorn” in itself was good but God used it to serve a good purpose, so that God’s power could be made perfect in Paul’s weakness. It kept him from boasting in the light of the revelations he received from God, it kept him humble.

Most of us have at least one “thorn” in our life from which we have prayed for deliverance many times over, but God has chosen to leave it with us. It may be something physical or spiritual or both. We assume Paul’s “thorn” was physical because he calls it a “thorn in the flesh”, but perhaps he was speaking of “flesh” as that ‘old man’ which is in constant battle with the ‘new man’. “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit,” Galatians 5:17.

Listen again to the works of the flesh (KJV), “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like,” Galatians 5:19-21. Could it be that God leaves one of these things as a “thorn in our flesh”? An evidence of the ‘old man’ which we are to combat? Rather than continuing to plead with God to remove this temptation, whatever it is, we should hear what God told Paul. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” 2 Cor:12:9. We should recognize it for what it is and instead of praying for its removal we should be asking for God to give us His strength to defeat it!

How are the “works of the flesh” combated? By the “fruit of the Spirit”! Note the plurality of the “works” of the flesh and the singular “fruit” of the Spirit. But that’s for another time. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit,” Galatians 5:24,25. Combat evil thoughts and desires by deliberately thinking on the things of the Spirit, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things,” Philippian 4:8.

Perhaps this is what Paul referred to when, at the conclusion of his life, he said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” 2 Tim:4:7. Let’s not be discouraged because of the temptations, for if the Lord does not remove them, He allows them. They are for our humility and for His glory. His grace is sufficient, and when we recognize and accept that fact we shall be like Paul, “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 am I strong,” 2 Cor:12:10.

It was the crippled Mephibosheth who “ate at the King’s table continually”!