Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 v. 7 The Personality Of This Pain – Paul tells us about the nature of the trial he endured by the two words he uses to describe it: thorn and buffet. We have all endured being pricked by a thorn and we know the piercing, nagging pain they can produce. The word “thorn” comes from a word which refers to “a sharp wooden stake to torture or impale someone”. The word “buffet” means “to strike with the fist, to mistreat”. Whatever it was that Paul endured, it was, to him, like being beaten with an open fist or being impaled on a stake. What was the nature of Paul’s thorn? No one knows for sure, disease of some sort, We do know that his bodily presence was somewhat weak, 2 Cor. 10:10. Some have suggested that Paul’s thorn was malaria, epilepsy, or some other physical affliction. No one knows for sure, but whatever it was, it made the task of preaching and ministering to the churches far more difficult for Paul. One thing we know for sure about Paul’s thorn is this: it may have been carried out by Satan, but it was conceived by God! Keep in mind that whatever it was that afflicted this great preacher, it was part of God’s plan for his life! You may be going through a time like this right now. If you aren’t, you can rest assured that there is a time of pain just down your road. In fact, we are all going to experience many periods of thorns and buffetings in life. No one likes them, but they are part of the human experience, Job 14:1; Ecc. 2:23! When the thorns pierce you and the buffetings shake your foundation, you need to remember that nothing can touch your life that is not part of God’s plan for you, Rom. 8:28. If it has come your way, then God has signed off on it! Ill. Job – Job 1-2!) Perhaps it is good that we do not know what Paul’s problem was. Why? Be cause If Paul had named his thorn, then we might conclude that the promises of God associated with that thorn were only good for others with the same problem. But, since we don’t know what he suffered from, we can apply the promises he received to the situations we face! The Place Of This Pain – Paul’s thorn was “in the flesh”. It afflicted his physical man. Often, the thorns and buffetings we endure in this life will manifest themselves in the physical realm, through sickness and other forms of physical suffering. At other times, we will endure emotional pain, such as depression, loneliness and heartbreak. Sometimes our thorns will be spiritual in nature, as we doubt our salvation, struggle with holiness and battle spiritual pride. I am simply trying to let you know that suffering can come in many shapes. We can hurt on many levels, not all of which are visible to the naked eye! We should never be surprised at how the thorns of life manifest themselves. The word “buffet” is a verb and it is in the “present tense and the active voice”. That may not mean much to you, but what it tells us that this thing which afflicted Brother Paul was something that was continual in nature. In other words, he lived with this thing all the time! When this problem came, it came to stay! He even asked God three times for relief, still the problem endured! We need to understand that the things we may be called upon to endure may not be over in an hour or a few days. Some people, for God’s own reasons, are given thorns and buffetings that seem to endure for years. Why? but for some of these things there are no answers. It will only be in eternity that we will know all the reasons why some things came to pass. I said that to encourage you! When the thorns and buffetings of life come your way, and they linger in your life, do not be discouraged! God is doing something special in your life, and in His time, He will make that perfectly clear! If you being buffeted right now? Are the harsh blows of life landing on you, leaving you bleeding, bruised and battered before the Lord? Are you being pierced by the cruel, sharp thorns of physical, emotional or spiritual affliction? If you are, then just let me remind you that God’s promises are still true! His mercies are new every day,Lam. 3:21-22! Do you need to come before Him today to get grace for your race? Do you need help for your valley? Do you need to find that prize in your life? I want you to stop asking Him “Why?”. I want you to get before Him and ask Him to show you what He is doing in your life. I want you to ask Him for grace to praise Him “in” your buffetings. I want you to bow before the Lord and thank Him for your thorn. You say, “I can’t do that!”, then you need to come and ask Him to help you reach that place. Listen, none of us have arrived! Our healing our hurt is coming to the place where we yield to God and to what He is doing in your life take your thorn to Him right now!
Posted on: Sat, 20 Jul 2013 19:11:20 +0000
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