2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (KJV)

If Paul was in need of a thorn to keep him straight, then, why would we, who have been given such great revelation concerning the Gospel and our God think that we are above such. Yes, I do have a thorn, which I have often asked God to remove, and He continues to refer me to His truth:

2 Corinthians 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (KJV)

We are not told just what Paul’s thorn was, but we are told that it was from the enemy of his soul. He could not defeat what ever it was, and for victory through it, there was required God’s Grace. And so the victory over it was obviously not to come in this lifetime for Paul, and if we are honest with ourselves neither will we have that victory in this lifetime over whatever it is that is our thorn.

Chances are that you live with someone like me, who has such a thorn. You may or you may not know exactly what it is, but surely you do know that they are affected by it. It at times shows up in their attitude; at other times in their commitment to overcoming. At times it may have been seen in their struggle to keep going. You must remind them at those times that God’s grace is sufficient. You know the battle, because you are in the fight. You have your armor, but you also have your thorn. This is why you are able to forgive others as you do. You know your own need for forgiveness from others. This is why you remain humble before your God, and seek Him with a contrite heart. This is why you feel for and pray for others who have no recognition of their thorn, because their pride likely does exist, not from the abundance of the revelations given to them from the Lord, but it is worse than any buffeting thorn. They are the ones who take credit for all of their accomplishments as well as those of others around them, and within them there is no humility. They are the ones who offer no forgiveness to others as provided in the Gospel, the good news of God’s grace, but instead they often take advantage of the plight of others for their own gain, or to ease their own conscience. After all they are so much better than these others. They themselves will not hear of or have anything to do with God’s revelations or His grace.

We pray that God will somehow break up the stony soil of their hearts, without crushing them completely.

We who remain in Him, in Christ Jesus are overcomers not because of our strength, but because of His Grace, and we trust Him completely with our future realizing that in Him we have life eternal, and we have it in abundance. Knowing Christ, and learning His revelations through His Spirit is always more than enough.