Living
with Thorns in the Flesh.
by Tom
Caballes
"My
grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more
gladly of my weaknesses, so that the
power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
What are your character
weaknesses – anger, lust, envy, self-pity,
greed, pride, laziness, over-indulgence,
lying, or something else? Is it judging others
or gossip? Everyone of us has a special
weakness; your weakness might be someone
else’s strength, and vice-versa. As we count
the years of following God, we usually grow
little by little, yet some shortcomings are
very stubborn to get rid of. They come to us
when we are not vigilant or at times of
distraction. Some of these weaknesses we will
have to battle with for a lifetime; we will
never be without faults until we die. It is
like having a lifetime nemesis. As Paul said,
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content
with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. For when I am
weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10
ESV) How about you – what are your thorns in
the flesh? Do you have a plan or a strategy to
keep your arch-enemy in control? Are you
prepared to face your life nemesis until the
end?
So How Do We
Battle Against and Live with a
Thorn in the Flesh?
- Pursue
God and pursue holiness. Holiness does not
come in a silver platter – it comes from
pursuing God wholeheartedly and living a
disciplined life. Ask the Holy Spirit to
conquer daily your weaknesses. Strive
for peace with everyone, and for the
holiness without which no one will see the
Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 ESV)
- Our
thorns in the flesh keep us humble and serve
as a reminder that we always need the grace
of God daily in this life. As branches in
the vineyard, we cannot live well if we are
disconnected to the vine. God gives us
the grace to live a holy life. Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in
the vine, neither can you, unless you
abide in me. (John 15:4 ESV)
- We
need to know ourselves and anticipate when
we fail. A wax melts candle before a fire –
keep the fires in our lives far away from
where we melt easily. We need to guard our
lips, eyes, and our hearts all the time.
- Half
the battle is within our minds. We always
need to be vigilant and never let our guards
down. We destroy arguments and every
lofty opinion raised against the knowledge
of God, and take every thought captive to
obey Christ, being ready to punish every
disobedience, when your obedience is
complete. (2 Corinthians 10:5-6 ESV)
- Ask
forgiveness from God. We are sinners before
Him. God knows us intimately [see Psalm
139]. He knows our hearts even if we fail to
conform to His ideals at times. Be confident
of God’s love and forgiveness.
- Have
personal accountability. Live in the light.
Ask help from a trusted and mature person
who can help you be accountable for the
things you are weak with; use the support
available so you can grow in holiness.
- It
is a lifetime battle. One brother shared
that his battle with lust [maybe his thorn
in the flesh] will only go away five minutes
after he dies! Be patient, then. Look
forward when one day, your life nemesis will
disappear forever when we are with God in
heaven. In Christ, you will win over your
life nemesis!
Other Scripture passages:
- Do
not love the world or the things in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him. For all that
is in the world—the desires of the flesh
and the desires of the eyes and pride of
life—is not from the Father but is from
the world. And the world is passing away
along with its desires, but whoever does
the will of God abides forever. (1 John
2:15-17 ESV)
- So
flee youthful passions and pursue
righteousness, faith, love, and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord from
a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 ESV)
- For
we do not have a high priest who is unable
to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one
who in every respect has been tempted as
we are, yet without sin. Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive mercy and find
grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews
4:15-16 ESV)
- Other
Bible verses: Ephesians 5:8-11;
Hebrews 4:13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 1:13-16
For
personal reflection or
group sharing
- What
are your “Thorns in the Flesh?” How are you
managing them to keep them in control?
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Tom
Caballes is the
National Senior
Administrator and a
National Coordinator
of the Lamb
of God, a
community of the
Sword of the Spirit
with 7 branches
located throughout
New Zealand. Tom
also leads Kairos
New
Zealand, an
outreach program for
high school,
university, and
post-university aged
people.
Tom and
his wife Mhel and
their two
daughters live in
Wellington, New
Zealand.
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Top image
credit:
https://thankgodquotes.com/2018/09/06/2-corinthians-129-2/
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