2 Corinthians 12

In this chapter we see Paul still defending himself to the Corinthian church.  There appears to have been some in the church who were speaking bad of Paul and saying that some "super-apostles" were better (v 11).  Paul doesn't like that he has to do this, but as a spiritual parent, he is still concerned about his children and wants the best for them and as such wants to be able to speak into their lives to send them in the right direction (v 20-21).

Paul begins by discussing a person who he describes in the third person as one who was caught up to paradise and saw amazing revelations about heaven.  In verse 7 he gives away the fact that he is in fact the person because he says that he received a "thorn in my flesh" (v 7) in order to keep him humble because of the "surpassingly great revelations".  The key that he learned from God after he requested to be released was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v 9).  This is an interesting and powerful statement because from here we learn a way of God that he chooses to use our weakness because it more powerfully shows his strength.  It also goes back to God wanting us and others to recognize that He is the source of the power and the accomplishments and not us.

It is often wondered and discussed what the "thorn in my flesh" could be.  Some believe that it is a suffering with Paul's eyes because we see comments about his eyes (Galatians 4:15) and large writing (Galatians 6:11).  Others believe that it is just the physical struggles such as the beating and shipwrecks etc. that he has gone through that he described in 2 Cor 11.  I think that it may be the eyes but certainly the other struggles would fit as well.

He then finishes the chapter with his main concern for the church which is that he believes that they are not behaving correctly (v 20) and that if he does visit, he'll have to be correcting and reproving the wrongdoing instead of being able to have joy in the growth in Christ that is shown in their lives.  It is never pleasant for a parent to bring correction or discipline to children, but they know that it is necessary and important.  Again he has described his great love for them (v 15) and is asking that they respond to him in love as well.

What stands out to me in this is God's power being made perfect in our weakness.  This can come in various forms but smacks against our desire to be great and wonderful and loved by all.  We need to be willing to be weak in man's eyes and from that place, let God's power show and work through us.  It is not something that we can do or create, because this is only something that comes by God's working in our lives.  But we need to see each circumstance in life, especially difficult ones, as opportunities to grow in Christ and rather than get angry or bitter about them, ask Jesus to work in us and shape us and form us through them.  That is not to say that we shouldn't ask to be freed from suffering or difficulty such as sickness etc - Paul asked 3 times.  Even Jesus asked to be released from the suffering of the cross in Gathsemene, but in the end our response must be like Jesus who said, not my will but yours be done.

Lord Jesus help us to follow you and live as you lived.  Help us to have the right attitudes and actions in suffering and difficulties that you bring.