Daily Devotion, June 3, 2021

Devotion:

Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

When we think of Paul, we often think of the man who wrote a good part of the New Testament, made three missionary journeys, and was successful in his mission. God revealed things to Paul that He revealed to no one else. Paul was concerned about pride. God needed a humble servant, always looking to Him, so the thorn in the flesh was given to Paul to keep him humble. There is lots of speculation as to what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, yet nobody really knows for sure. After God chose not to take the thorn away, after Paul’s three pleading requests, how did Paul react? He praised God. He glorified Him in his infirmities. He took pleasure in his infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, and distresses for Christ’s sake. God’s grace was sufficient for Paul and is sufficient for us.

God wants His children to be obedient and humble. He will put us in positions so that we must trust in Him. Will we choose to be humble and walk with God or not? How will we respond when God gives us a thorn in the flesh?  Accept God’s grace to help you. It’s hard to rely on someone else when we’re weak, but this is what God calls us to do. We need to be strong in Christ. It is then that we can lean in and fully rely on Him. God is always with us. That builds our faith.

Personal Worship Option:

Paul struggled with the thorn being a messenger from Satan. We need to remember that God’s grace is sufficient for each of us. In the song Jesus Loves Me, one of the lines says we are weak, but He is strong. He is with us always. 

God of all grace, we ask for your peace when we are caught in the conflict between grace and Satan. Give us your strength, we pray, to persevere. Amen.