[:en]SCRIPTURE: 2 CORINTHIANS 12
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
“That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)
PAUL’S VISION AND HIS THORN (vs. 1-10)
When Paul talked about “a man”, he was referring to himself. He recalled his fourteen years experiences of how he was given revelation from God to be the chosen instrument for His ministry. It proved that Paul was His chosen servant because he received truth directly from God.
Paul had a thorn in his flesh. What exactly was the thorn was not revealed but the best suggestion was an eye ailment. Paul was being blinded doing his conversion and it was possible that some weaknesses remained in later years. The thorn brought pain to Paul and he asked God to remove it. But God did not answer his request because the thorn was a proof of his heavenly experience and the thorn will keep him from being proud. The thorn was a spiritual blessing for Paul to become a better Christian. It reminded Paul to get strength from God. It enabled Paul to know that God’s grace is sufficient for him and that his weakness would bring glory to God.
PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE CORINTHIANS (vs. 11-21)
When Paul claimed that he was second to none, he was simply defending his apostleship. Signs that proved his apostleship:
- He endured trials of patience.
- He was not a lover of money
- He did not receive support and was never a burden to them.
- He never exploited the believers
- He loved and shared concerns for the Corinthian believers.
- His life was an example for believers to follow
- His motive in preaching was pure
- He had the courage to deal with sin of the church.
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