Experience of Paul’s thorn
Key Verses: 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 20-21
Paul shares an experience about which some might boast, and he shares it in a way that lessens that possibility by saying “I know a man….” He doesn’t want to take credit for something over which he had no control. He does not even know how to explain the experience, even though he has had fourteen years to contemplate it. He got a glimpse of heaven itself. He could boast, but he chooses not to so that people will focus on Christ and not on him.
God helped Paul not become centered on himself and full of pride. He did this through what Paul calls a ‘thorn.’ We have no idea what that pain was that God used to help Paul stay humble. We know its origin was Satan, and yet God used it for good in Paul’s life. Satan and his destructive ways can be used in the life of the believer for divine purposes. Paul wanted the ‘thorn’ removed, but God gave Paul the opportunity to draw in closer to Him through the ‘thorn.’
God’s grace can carry us through any thorn that comes our way, if we will allow His power to be made perfect in our lives. We must remain weak so His strength can come through. I think I am in the middle of learning this lesson right now. I am experiencing some serious health issues and I need to learn to let His strength carry me. I am so used to doing these physical things myself, that it is hard to not be able to do them. Everything in me cries, “Make me better!” But healing has not come. His power is made perfect in weakness, my weakness. I am not sure I like this lesson. I am not yet delighting in my weakness. Help me, Lord!
Paul was an apostle, even though he was not one of the original twelve. He had all the signs of the other apostles. If someone claims to be an “apostle” today, watch out! Signs, wonders and miracles. This is what Paul says marks an apostle. Others add that you see the risen Jesus in the flesh. So when someone takes this title, watch out.
Paul is afraid that when he returns to the Corinthian church he will find them not living as believers should be living. If that is so, Paul feels like his time with them has been wasted. Have you ever invested time and effort into someone and they turned and wasted all that investment? It can be devastating. We are called to be faithful, and God is responsible for the harvest. We do our part with His energy, and He causes the growth to happen.
The Arnold Journey 