2 Corinthians 12 – Pastor Mac Daily DEVO

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. 2 Corinthians 12:7 – While there was list of sins that was found within the Corinthian church, one that stood out was their pride. This was one of the reasons Paul was having so much trouble connecting now with the church. They saw Paul’s “humble” lifestyle and it was counter the worldly successful lifestyle they prided themselves in. They gravitated instead towards teachers who lived out the lifestyle they looked more highly on. What we’re seeing in Paul within these chapters is him reminding this church that while he isn’t wearing that time period’s form of “Gucci” suits, he has all the blessings to be filled with pride. He was an apostle called by Jesus Himself, he started more churches than anyone, and in this passage we even see him saying he went up to Heaven. He could have lived in so much pride because of such blessings, but something else the Lord blessed Paul with was this “thorn” we see spoken about to humble him. The fact that Paul was humble before them, despite having all these reasons to walk in pride, was a demonstration of the Lord’s work in his life. Paul, while desiring this thorn removed, shifted his view of it to be a means of keeping him humble and relying on the Lord. I don’t know what’s in your life that you are praying wasn’t any longer, but maybe this shift in perspective like Paul did with his thorn is what’s needed with your “thorn.” If after much prayer its clearly not going away, how then can we see it differently? While this will be different for each person and story, a large part of Paul’s thorn was to keep Paul relying on the Lord. While you may be praying this to be gone, the Lord may choose to leave your thorn to remind you to rely on Him. Trust He knows what He is doing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3135

Question To Ponder: Why would God seek to keep us humble?

See Full Chapter                                                                             

See Previous Devotions Over This Chapter