Daily Devotion in II Corinthians 12

Daily Nugget:
Paul was a man greatly used of God. With God’s helping hand, the evangelist survived shipwrecks, beatings, persecutions, imprisonments, and other ill-treatment. With His miraculous leadership, the minister for Christ was used in healings, revivals, and many miracles. However, as used by God as he was, Paul still had a personal aliment (II Corinthians 12:7).
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” II Corinthians 12:7

Commentators have strained at attempting to name Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” God has chosen not to make it obvious to us what it was. No matter what it was, Paul made it clear that he faced an infirmity. Three times Paul pleaded with God to remove the malady from him (II Corinthians 12:8). God’s answer was “… My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness …” (II Corinthians 12:9).

Here was a man who had seen glorious things in the third H  eaven (II Corinthians 12:2-4). The preacher had been delivered from many horrible things, yet God allowed Paul to experience this physical problem. God could have easily healed his body, but his answer was that God’s grace was enough for him to live with the problem and that Paul’s infirmity would be a vehicle to make him spiritually stronger.

If God allowed one of His great spiritual warriors to face such a battle, we too should not be surprised if we face health or other problems. As with most trials, we can do one of two things when going through testing. We can either shake our fist at God and be angry with Him, which is not the wise thing to do when we need Him the most, or get close to Him and rely on Him to get us through the struggle.

Paul chose not to be foolish and get angry at God. He decided if God allowed him to go through the problem, then he was going to have a good attitude about it (II Corinthians 12:10) and give God the glory. In doing so, Paul learned what God wanted him to know. He realized that when he was weak, he was the strongest through God’s help (II Corinthians 12:10)!

Today’s Thought: 
“Some cry, ‘Why me’ when they go through a trial. My question to them is, ‘Why wouldn’t it be you? Are you something special that you shouldn’t have problems or sicknesses?’” 

Words to Understand:
Bewail: saddened; broken-hearted
Guile: cunning
Lasciviousness: lustfulness; morally filthy

Today’s Reading:
II Corinthians 12
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 ¶ I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.