Day 340 - 2 Corinthians 12

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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V.1-5 Paul avoids boasting about himself, so he speaks in these verses of “a man in Christ,” but is referring to himself. The third heaven is God’s own eternal home, where the believer will live forever. It is beyond all that has been created! Paul could not describe in human words, what he had experienced there.
V.7 There was a danger that Paul would be proud of this experience, and so some bodily affliction which is here called a “thorn in the flesh,” was given to him.
V.8-9 Paul asked the Lord three times to take away his affliction, but then he got his answer. The Lord said that He would give Paul the grace to bear it. He does not promise to remove every trial, but He does promise to give us the ability to bear what He allows.
V.9 “The power of Christ.” This is the only time this expression is found in the Bible. It can be a grand encouragement to each believer when he (she) has been allowed by the Lord, to go through a serious illness or trouble. Then and not till then, is this promise given, “that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Are you getting the message?
V.10 Paul has learned his lesson, “when I am weak, then am I strong.” If we trust in our own strength we shall fail, but if, in our weakness, we lean on our Lord, He will give us the strength we need.
V.15 Let us desire this spirit of forgiving love — not look for love, but show love to all.