Scripture:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ESV
[8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But 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 of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Observation:
Many people have tried to determine what the thorn Paul was talking about in this scripture, and honestly, it’s easy to get sidetracked by that. There are so many things it could be, and we could dive in just a little bit for entertainment value. However, I’m not sure it matters. Because when it all boils down to it, the thorn Paul prayed about is not as important as the response that GOD gave him. So let’s just talk about Paul for a minute. He was a well-educated man who sat at the feet of a highly respected teacher of Jewish law. Prior to his encounter with Jesus, he walked as straight as anyone could in his mind. That being said… what on earth could a man who walked a life like that have that would torment him to the point of praying over and over for GOD to remove it… was it the fact that his eyes still gave him issues as we see later on in his writing? Was it all the people who sought after him for guidance? Or could it have been all the faces of the men and women that he dragged off to be killed coming back to his mind every time he closed his eyes? It could have been any number of things. The thorn is not the point… the grace is… Paul had a revaluation when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. All his teaching made sense. His life was changed. He saw the error in his ways. He was serving GOD in his mind and heart, but that day opened his eyes for real, and he saw that in all his self-righteous way, he still needed the grace of GOD. We all do… it doesn’t matter what the thorn was. The need for grace is the point.
Application:
I can’t do it. It will never work. Grace is the only way. We all have a thorn in the flesh. Whether it be some behavior that you want to stop but find it nearly impossible to, or maybe it’s as simple as the way you think that bothers you, perhaps it’s the fact that you are trying to be good enough to get to heaven. Whatever it may be, let me set you free. Without grace, you have no hope. In all our righteousness, we are but filthy rags. We can not do it. The point of all this is HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS. Does this mean running headlong into sin… no, not at all. But what does it mean, well, exactly what it says? HIS grace is big enough to cover your sin. The guilt and shame that is tied to sin no longer had to beat you down. HE has forgiven you that is who you were it’s not who you are. HIS grace will draw you out of your sin not leave you trapped in it. Once I had an encounter with Jesus, my desire changed. In building a relationship with HIM, I no longer wanted to sin. So I have to make this quick distinction. The difference between religion and relationships is that they have to or they want to. Religious people feel like they have to live right to get to heaven, and those who have a relationship with Jesus want to live right because they are going to heaven. That’s where the grace comes in. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD. If anyone stumbles in one part of the law, he is guilty of all of it. If you think harm to your brother, you are guilty of murder in your heart. It can not be done without grace. You can not be good enough. So never stop running to the father. HE will receive you with open arms.
Prayer:
Father, you looked through time and saw how imperfect we were and gave us the answers to our sins. Thank you for your grace and mercy. We do not deserve it, and if we think we do, we are in trouble. You know that what we deserve is 3 nails and 2 pieces of wood. But Christ took that for us so that we could live inside of HIS righteousness. Now, when you look at us, you see him. How amazing is that? Your grace is what is sufficient. We are not. So honestly, all we can do is thank you. It’s all about you. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.