I have been looking at the subject of Apostasy – the hows and whys – and in the midst of my musings we enjoyed our cell group meeting when the issue came up under another guise.
What was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” allowed by God?
Paul is speaking of the wonderful ways in which God has taken him from unbelief, as a persecutor of the believers in Christ, to being an apostle – one sent on the mission of God, to proclaim the reality of Christ.
To 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. 2 Corinthians10:7.
There has been much speculation as to what the “thorn,” of Paul’s affliction was, but, as with Job, it appears to have been permitted as a satanic taunt, to keep him humble.
Verse 8 goes on, Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” In other words, in answer to fervent and persistent prayer, the answer was “NO!” And this is where many people battle, and don’t understand what Paul recognised. He had to depend wholly and completely on God and not on his own strength and abilities. The reminder stayed with him so that he would not become conceited and promote himself.
We are not all mighty preachers of the gospel like Paul but we all have a part to play in God’s perfect plan.
*He has called each of us by name. Isaiah 43:1; John 10:1-16
* He has a plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11
* He will equip us to do and be as he asks. Philippians 4:13
* He gives us free will, so we are at liberty to say “no” – and lose our rewards. John 3:16-21,36; John 6:35-40
Because we cling to our own selfish desires, and want to understand only in our personal sphere of perception, we lose opportunities to receive His provision in our lives. We ask, then cavil and complain when He says “No.” What we tend to disallow is that He is God and we are not, much as we would like Him to listen to our demands, and do things our way.
Andy Stanley says that our greatest weakness is God’s greatest opportunity – if we trust Him! His grace is given to us when we lean on Him instead of trying to stand alone.
In the Parable of the Sower, (Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23) we read that some seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Our own discontent can choke our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dissatisfaction with His provision can lose our security in Him.
Consider this God who calls us into a relationship with His Son. Isaiah 40:12 speaks of His being able to hold the waters of all the oceans in the hollow of His hand, and to measure the whole of the universe by the breadth of His hand – thumb to little finger! Of course we can’t envisage His fullness, but Jesus stands waiting for us. (Revelation 3:20) We can’t afford a thorn of discontent, or fear, or doubt, or lust, sent by the enemy, to keep us from acknowledging His Lordship. He paid for us, and He wants to provide for us.
Like many early Christians I wear a tiny anchor round my neck. It is a reminder that Christ came down from the cross, and lives to be my strength and guide. He is not only my anchor, but the rock I am anchored to!
Hebrew 6:19. Psalm 62:7
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