RTW December 1

A Thorny Gift

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.…
2 Corinthians 12:7b

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

Given to me… the thorn was a gift. Do I think of my thorns as gift?

Often, it’s God plan for us …

• To be weak, so we can experience His strength.
• To feel helpless, so we can experience His power.
• To go through hardship, persecution, and trouble, so we can experience His sufficiency.

The world says:

• “You need power, success, and to make a name for yourself no matter what.” God says, “My grace is all you need.”
• “You can’t show any weakness.” God says, “My power works best in your weakness.”
• “Be glad in your strength and abilities.” God says, “Boast in your weakness.”
• “Take pride in what you can do, trade insult for insult, persecute those who persecute you and hate hardships as well as troubles.” God says, “Take pleasure in weakness, insults, hardship, persecution, and troubles.”
• “You are nothing when you are weak.” God says, “In weakness, you are strong.”

Something New

Paul was punched about by the devil? Who would have thought it? “Perhaps you have looked into the face of a Christian who is always smiling, who never seems to have any worry, is always happy and radiant, and as you have thought about your own circumstances, you have said in your heart, ‘I wish I were he! He seems to have no problems. He doesn’t have to take what I do.’ But perhaps you have lived long enough, as I have, to know that sometimes the most radiant face hides great pressures, and often the man who is being most blessed of God is being most buffeted by the devil.” (Redpath)

Something to Do

Learn to appreciate my thorns.

 

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