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April 15, 2010 Read: Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh...Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 "God wants to redeem you, not exchange you. If you're a bookish, contemplative type, waiting for God to change you into the kind of person who wears lampshades on your head at parties, good luck on that." John Ortberg. Think About: What is your thorn in the flesh? You would be amazed at how many people spend valuable time trying to figure out what Paul's thorn in the flesh was. I've heard that it was his eyesight. Some believe he was terribly nearsighted and actually dictated most of his letters to the friends he always had with him. It also could have been his temper. He had one. It is most evident in the book of Galatians where he becomes very frustrated and lashes out at the readers in a way that is a bit startling, and it also played a role in the breakup of the team of Barnabas and Paul when Paul would not allow Barnabas to bring his nephew, John Mark, on their second missionary journey. Barnabas let Paul go his own way with a new partner. A thorn in the flesh may be a physical deficiency, but it could also be a weakness of temperament or skill. Whatever the case, we all have at least one "thorn in the flesh" - that personal characteristic that we find impossible to overcome, that we fear might sabotage our best efforts to serve God. So how was God's strength made perfect in Paul's weakness? Another incident where Paul seems unnecessarily stubborn occurred during his trial at the end of Acts. Paul cleverly avoids serious punishment by letting the Romans in charge know that he is a citizen of Rome, something he inherited from his father. As a citizen of Rome, he had the right to demand that he be tried for his crimes in the emperor's court. After appearing before, and witnessing to, several Roman officials, Paul is eventually sent to Rome for trial, but King Agrippa comments that if Paul had not appealed to the emperor, he could have been set free. So, how did God show his strength in the weakness of Paul's stubbornness? Paul spent his time in prison writing a good portion of the New Testament and leaving for us the foundations of Christian doctrine. And we have to wonder what was God's will? Was it God's will that Paul continue his missionary work, or was it God's will that Paul write all those letters while he was imprisoned? Power is made perfect in weakness. What's your thorn in the flesh? Pray this Prayer: Lord, I have so many thorns in the flesh, I sometimes feel like a pin cushion. Perhaps the greatest thorn is my unwillingness to let you take advantage of my weaknesses by letting you demonstrate your power to overcome them. I know I need to trust you more so that I can be the me that you made me. Help me, please. Amen. You are invited and encouraged to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with the spiritual practices at the Easter Devotional Blog. We are on this journey together and your words may help another along the way. Having problems viewing this page? Click here to view it online. Click here to be removed from the Daily Devotions © 2010 St. Luke's United Methodist Church at Windermere |
