Wednesday, September 10, 2008
thorn in my flesh.
2 Corinthians 12:5-10
5I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even 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.
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9But 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. 10That 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.Paul shared this letter with the people in Corinth following a vision that he had. While Paul was there, he faced numerous challenges - false teachers and a church that was plagued with immorality and idolatry. This is not unlike the situation in Singapore where we idolise the latest handphone models and branded goods. We also have to address the issues of false teachers in which the world teaches us that we shd embrace relativism - to embrace the presence of many truths. We're told to be tolerant (say only what they like to hear) to others when we should be loving them. And loving means having to speak the truth so that others may not be blinded by lies and deception.
So when Paul spoke, it was a tremendous task since there would be many to pinpoint, fault and question him. Still, he "boasted" because he knew the truth that he was speaking was not self-motivated and nothing to be ashamed of.
God speaks to each of us in His own way. Many times, He speaks to us personally so that the Word examines our hearts and seek out ways that are displeasing to Him.
It is easy to be complacent when we have heard from God. Sometimes pride swells when our observations resonates with God's heart. During times like these, it is easy to just verbal diarrhoea and speak in self-righteousness. In Paul's case, he spoke the truth as it is - drawing nothing to himself but simply to the Word of God.
Paul was also aware that a thorn in the flesh was inflicted on him. He repeatedly pleaded with God to remove it (3 times). Perhaps this was inflicted so that his self-sufficiency may be eradicated.
God doesn't always yield to the pleas of men so that His grace and power may be shown. Ultimately, God has given us His grace that we may bear it. It would not be beyond what we can bear. So that others may see the work of God; and not be distracted by the workmen instead.
Let's not waste time groaning about the thorn and be debilitated by it.
God has been speaking alot on dependency on Him. So let's boast of His strength and might.
Jeremiah 9:23-2423 This is what the LORD says:"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
10:52 AM
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