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2 Corinthians 12:
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Paul bookends his statement with God's Purpose: "Lest I should be exalted..."
To receive buffeting as a discipline from the Lord, is to find the path of true wisdom.
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8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Paul made no assumptions on this matter, rather he sought the Lord to clearly discern His Discipline
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9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
To acknowledge that we can only serve the Father in the power of Christ by operating beyond our abilities,
is to follow "the seasons" of the Lord with equanimity.
*******************************************************************
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses,
for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
To rejoice and take pleasure in receiving what remains of the suffering of Christ is to find:
"The Joy of the Lord is our strength".
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations,
a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Paul bookends his statement with God's Purpose: "Lest I should be exalted..."
To receive buffeting as a discipline from the Lord, is to find the path of true wisdom.
******************************************************************
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Paul made no assumptions on this matter, rather he sought the Lord to clearly discern His Discipline
******************************************************************
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
To acknowledge that we can only serve the Father in the power of Christ by operating beyond our abilities,
is to follow "the seasons" of the Lord with equanimity.
*******************************************************************
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses,
for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
To rejoice and take pleasure in receiving what remains of the suffering of Christ is to find:
"The Joy of the Lord is our strength".
