What do you see? 2 Corinthians 12:7

Posted by anointedplace on April 23, 2012 · 1 Comment 

2 corinthians 12 : 7
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

When we read the passage written by the Apostle Paul what comes to mind?  Do we read in disbelief at what is happening to Paul?  Do we deny that fact that the thorn was given to Paul by God?  Do we not admit to the fact that God’s main concern is our souls and not our comfort?  But that can’t be right?  God wants us rich correct?  Why would God allow something like this to happen to Paul?  Paul tells us of all the things God has done for him and allowed him to witness.  Paul has told us of the vision of Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit for the spreading of the Gospel.

Now imagine, the heavenly Father working out situations for you when things look like death.  Imagine impossible mountains being moved on your behalf to bring glory to God.  Imagine the Holy Spirit blessing your hands as His favor covers you.  Imagine the people who see you lift you up with praise because of what God is doing through you.  If we are honest, our hearts will grow with pride in us.  If we are honest, we will boast in ourselves and not Jesus Christ who is over all.  Now look at the reason for the thorn that Paul gives; “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”

Matthew 5:^30 (E)And if your right hand ^(F)causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into ^(G)hell.

Deuteronomy 8 :1 “The whole commandment that I command you today ^(A)you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. ² And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you^(B)these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, ^(C)testing you ^(D)to know what was in your heart, ^(E)whether you would keep his commandments or not. ³ And he humbled you and ^(F)let you hunger and ^(G)fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that ^(H)man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word^[a] that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

We never think that blessings can lead to pride but God knows us better than we know ourselves.  When we forget that is God that increases we can lose sight of who is in control.  What keeps us from moving forward is our inability to be honest about our hearts.  If we can’t be honest about our sinful nature and our ability to sin, then we will not give to Jesus.  Jesus came for those who are sick and the sick seek him.  Those that can looking for Jesus for healing also got forgiveness but they never come unless the know that they are sick.  Humans don’t admit fault on their own because they don’t think anything is wrong.  Only the Holy Spirit can reveal our need for salvation, the flesh can’t do that and will not.

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Filed under Bible, Brokenness, Christian, Commentary, Faith, Grace, Holy Spirit, Illumination, Love, mankind, Mercy, Purpose, Suffering, The Gospel, Understanding, Wisdom, Word of God · Tagged with apostle paul, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Lord, Messenger of Satan, Paul, Satan