April 12, 2018: SOAP #3052: 1Samuel 13; 1Chronicles 2-3; 2Corinthians 12

Scripture:  2Corinthians (NIV) 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “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.

Observation:    Some people go to great lengths to define Paul’s thorn in the flesh.  But the priority of this passage is not Paul’s “thorn,” but God’s grace—His all sufficient grace!   God did not remove that which troubled Paul but gave Paul grace to live in victory through the trouble.

Application:   There are times when God delays the deliverance from what troubles me.  The trouble seems to get worse.  The trouble weighs on my heart and worry tries to control my thoughts.  It is then I find that God’s grace is sufficient for me too!   Often, I find that when God gets the victory in me, I get the victory over what surrounds me.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, You are able to deliver me from the trouble, or sustain me through the trouble by your all-sufficient grace.  Either way, I walk in victorious faith because your presence sustains me!  Remind me that You are preparing me for eternity!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!