MONDAY: THE MIGHT OF MENTALITY: THORNS IN THE FLESH...

Ever dealt with thorns in the flesh? Do we really even understand the concept, or the purpose of this? Paul had a thorn in the flesh for a long, long time, which he reasoned was *GOD* keeping him humble---

It makes sense, considering how his calling manifested, and grew. I believe most people who sincerely align with THE LORD WILL experience a thorn, or more, in their growth! Trying to understand it is not easy, especially as we are suffering from these thorns, however that is exactly what we NEED to do!!!

2 CORINTHIANS 12: 7-10...
7+++Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
8+++Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9+++And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10+++Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had. We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, whether some great trouble, or some great temptation.

But God often brings this good out of evil, that the reproaches of our enemies help to hide pride from us. If God loves us, he will keep us from being exalted above measure; and spiritual burdens are ordered to cure spiritual pride. This thorn in the flesh is said to be a messenger of Satan which he sent for evil; but God designed it, and overruled it for good.

Prayer is a salve for every sore, a remedy for every malady; and when we are afflicted with thorns in the flesh, we should give ourselves to prayer. If an answer be not given to the first prayer, nor to the second, we are to continue praying. Troubles are sent to teach us to pray; and are continued, to teach us to continue instant in prayer.

Though God accepts the prayer of faith, yet he does not always give what is asked for: as he sometimes grants in wrath, so he sometimes denies in love. When God does not take away our troubles and temptations, yet, if he gives grace enough for us, we have no reason to complain. Grace signifies the good-will of God towards us, and that is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort in all afflictions and distresses. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Thus his grace is manifested and magnified. When we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; when we feel that we are weak in ourselves, then we go to Christ, receive strength from him, and enjoy most the supplies of Divine strength and grace.

What are these weaknesses which make *GOD'S* strength perfect? These weaknesses are not sins, but experiences and situations and circumstances and wounds that are hard to bear and that we can’t remove either because they are beyond our control or because love dictates that we not return evil for evil...

All happens for DIVINE reason, intervention, and HIS GLORY! Those whom *GOD* LOVES, and CALLS, ARE partners of HIS WILL, PLAN, and COVENANT, and KNOWING that the enemy(ies) WILL attempt, in every feasible way, to steal these, *GOD* has mysterious workings which keep us IN HIM, LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, and HIS WILL. To humble us, to teach us to RELY ON HIM, and to TRUST HIM, and to otherwise be DEPENDENT UPON HIM, and HIS SAVING GRACE! There are 3 PURPOSES for thorns in the flesh, and other such related; Satan intends to harass us, distress us, upset us, and cause us to fall: *GOD* intends to humble us, to take away our pride, and to bring us low enough to appreciate the works of SALVATION, lest we imagine that because HE offers it, we are above all else; *GOD* intends to GLORIFY CHRIST JESUS through us, and our growth INTO HIM; thus we are given strength to endure what is of this world, and retain JOY in the tests, trials, and tribulations of our journeying!!!

The ultimate purpose of God in our weakness is to glorify the kind of power that moved Christ to the cross and kept him there until the work of love was done. Paul said that Christ crucified was foolishness to the Greeks, a stumbling block to the Jews, but to those who are called it is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:23).

The deepest need that you and I have in weakness and adversity is not quick relief, but the well-grounded confidence that what is happening to us is part of the greatest purpose of God in the universe: the glorification of the grace and power of his Son: the grace and power that bore him to the cross and kept him there until the work of love was done. That’s what God is building into our lives. That is the meaning of weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, and calamity.

And I believe that this ties into LUKE 9: 23...
Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 

We often meet with crosses in the way of duty; and though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, and carry them after Christ. It is well or ill with us, according as it is well or ill with our souls. The body cannot be happy, if the soul be miserable in the other world; but the soul may be happy, though the body is greatly afflicted and oppressed in this world. We must never be ashamed of Christ and his gospel.

BEING a Christian does NOT ensure instant relief from the world, instead it teaches us HOW to RELY ON *GOD*, TRUST HIM, AND TO FOLLOW HIM TO THE KINGDOM! As CHRIST JESUS HAS SUFFERED, SO SHALL WE, and while we are often confused by such knowledge, it is one with THE WAY, therefore, GREATER understanding IS required in order TO NOT be trapped into the sufferings, but to LOOK TO HIM FOR THE COURAGE, and STRENGTH TO WITHSTAND THEM! PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE FOR US, while HONOURING HIM in all ways, all of your days! PRAY, and let the PEACE OF FAITH LEAD you to absolute FAITHFULNESS!!!

LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS