24 Mar March 22nd Weekly Devotional
And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me–to keep me from exalting myself! 2 Corinthians 12:7
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”. Bible scholars ever since the letter was circulated have been attempting to figure out what this “thorn in the flesh” was that Paul suffered from.
Many theories have been presented over the years.
It may have been physical, or may have been emotional, or possibly even spiritual.
Was it his poor eyesight? He would sign the letter to the Galatians with his own hand saying, “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand”. Gal 6:11
He would also write in Galatians 4:13 that it was because of “bodily illness” that I preached the gospel to you the first time. This was probably referring to his physical eyesight but could have meant other disease or deformity also.
Was it his physical appearance, or was he physically weak, or was it the way he spoke? 2 Cor. 10:10 says, For they say “His letters are weighty and strong, but his presence is unimpressive, and his speech contemptible.”
Maybe it was something as a result of his imprisonment, his beatings, being stoned, being shipwrecked, and maybe he had contracted malaria even and it was an effect of that.
Fewer believe it was emotional or spiritual, despite the fact that he says, this “thorn in the flesh” was given him to keep him from exalting himself. He wrote that it was to keep him humble. Fewer also believe that it was because the Jews were constantly at his heels.
I still wonder myself if it was to keep his heart from becoming prideful. Many sinners, myself included, say that the temptation of the boastful pride of life (1 John 2:15) is the most difficult to overcome, meaning they can bring under control the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, but that pride one is the hard one. As a man, I can see how that is the most difficult. Our father in the faith was after all, a devout Pharisee before his conversion, and the Pharisees had a reputation of being a proud sect.
At any rate, it is there, and the Holy Spirit saw fit to leave out what exactly it was, and the reason for that, most likely is so us humans wouldn’t focus on that one piece of suffering, and forget about, or not give the attention due, to all the other sufferings that we are faced with in life.
If it were to be pride that the apostle suffered from, would that then mean if someone has cancer, then that is not worthy to be considered suffering? Or if it were to be pride, would that mean that someone who has an immoral addiction not worthy to be considered suffering? If it were poor eyesight, would that mean that someone struggling with envy and jealousy is not worthy to be considered suffering?
The what ifs are endless, but what we do know for sure, is that our beloved apostle Paul, had a “thorn” and he suffered because of it, and he said in verse 10, Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Christ said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Everyone has a “thorn in the flesh”, but Christ is going to remove it.
So in this busy week, look forward to that great Day, when your thorn is also removed.
