Opus 2025-118: All Pain Is Not Equal

As I was looking at a major struggle in my life the passage of scripture that talks about the thorn in the flesh came to mind.

2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV) 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.

There are all kinds of applications to this.  We tend to often exaggerate the difficulties we face.  But there are some which qualify as thorns in the flesh.

Whenever I think about thorns in the flesh and how they fester and cause ongoing pain and discomfort my mind turns to the blessings of my life.  In spite of the thorns, blessings are still there.  I thought of those mornings years ago on my way to prepare for my day, stumbling into the walls, heading for the kitchen to turn on the coffee and asking myself, why am I doing this?  On the way I would have to go by the doors to my children’s bedrooms.  That would remind me why I would do this.

That made me think of how my children presented their own difficulties.  I don’t know how many times I shook my head about the way my children are acting.  I know I frequently threatened to take my son back to the hospital and get a refund.  Fortunately I never acted on it.

There is a big difference between a thorn in the flesh and a pain in the neck.  I know people who are not happy about how their children have turned out so far.  They have become a thorn.  If all goes well they are really only a pain in the neck which goes away in time.  When we are in pain we tend to focus on it and magnify it out of proportion.  Afterward it doesn’t seem so bad.

A thorn is a problem that needs to be removed.  If it is so deep that it can’t be removed it needs to be endured.  Dare I utter the phrase, “It builds character”?   A pain is a warning that there is a problem.  A pain in the neck could be anything from cancer to just sleeping wrong.  

Maybe we could make up a little sign that reminds us of the difference between a thorn and a pain.  THORN OR PAIN?

I hope that I am never a thorn and can keep from inflicting pain.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-379: Prayer Details

One night in church the following verse was referred to,

Matthew 21:21-22 (KJV) 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The pastor announced that this meant that anything we asked for we would receive.  I found that very unsatisfying.  We played the spiritualizing game with, “What is the mountain?”  People came up with all kinds of things, such as our sin.  Still very unsatisfying.

This is not the first time I have wrestled with this nor the first time I have written about it.  It struck home again.  I got to thinking about how there are many places in the Bible with prayer talked about and in each place it seems like there’s some kind of qualification.  This is one of those topics that requires a gestalt view.  

Take this verse,

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Is this referring to prayer?  And is it a qualification?  Are we required to be making righteousness a priority for answered prayer?

Then you have the case where the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  His answer was what we know as the Lord’s Prayer.   There is no guarantee of answer there, just directions.  I think that is significant.  Of course there are very few typical prayer list items mentioned.

And you have two examples of non-answers to the main people in the Bible.  One is when Paul pleads three times that his thorn in the flesh be removed.  The answer is “No.”

(2Co 12:8-9 KJV)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  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.

Then you have Jesus Himself in the garden praying and asking that this cup be removed.  Then He finishes with those lines that are so unpopular, “They will be done.”

Let’s go there next.

1 John 5:14 (KJV) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Prayer is not a free for all.  It is to be focused.  

Then we have something that has become a ritual or mantra.  We tend to finish all prayers with this,

John 14:13 (KJV) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Then there is the ultimate limitation which, when joined with praying in His will, really narrows the requests down.

John 15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

So don’t base your ideas about prayer on one verse.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-139: Christian Cliches: Pray and Change

I keep hearing that “Prayer changes things.”  While I accept the general idea I don’t see it as a guarantee given by the Bible.  The change is a choice of God, not the petitioner.  

You want a couple of examples?  Start at the top.  Take Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He was arrested.   

(Mar 14:36 KJV)  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

It seems pretty clear He is asking for plan B.  At the same time He knows it isn’t going to happen.

Not enough for you?  You are a hard sell.  Next, take the apostle Paul.  Yes, the Paul who said,

(1Th 5:17 KJV)  Pray without ceasing.

Paul is well known for his thorn in the flesh.  He was not excited about it.  He asked God to remove it.

(2Co 12:8 KJV)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

He asked three times.  God said, “No” three times.

Too many people think that prayer is a “to-do list” for God.  Yes, there are verses that can be understood that way but they have qualifiers.

So pray.  Expect God to answer.  Accept the reality that “no” is an answer.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-149: Pick Your Thorn

The Apostle Paul talked about his thorn in the flesh.  You may have heard the term and not know where it came from.  Here it is if you have not read it recently.

(2Co 12:7-9 KJV)  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.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  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.

I would suggest that each of us has one.  It is probable that some have more than one.  

We cannot pick what it will be.  That might be nice but it isn’t going to happen.  It might help if we could identify and admit what our thorn is.  Take a minute to think about what yours is, or could be.  Paul was not clear what his was.  I tend to think it was physical.  Some speculate epilepsy or stammering.  We don’t know.  Yours could be physical.  It could be a family member or a business associate.  It could be debt or lack of education.  Whatever you might think it is you need to understand that you can’t get rid of it.

But you can get stronger because of it.  That is the point God is making.  Our thorn gives God an opportunity to work through us and accomplish things we could never do it we didn’t have the handicap.  

You don’t think it is fair that you have to deal with ______?  If you knew you had to have a thorn, what would you pick if you could?  Would you trade with someone else?  Would that be any better?  

Be like Paul.  Face your limitations but don’t let them limit you.  Let God help you change your attitude and how you overcome.  He is waiting.

homo unius libri