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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
December 19
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Today's Pathway:
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Paul wrote yesterday that God had allowed Satan to give him a "thorn" in the flesh. While Satan desired to use this "thorn" to harm Paul, God intended to use it to strengthen him. Paul wrote that his "thorn" was continually buffeting him, and thus he writes that he asked the Lord on three separate occasions to take it away from him. Clearly the Lord did not do this. Some may see this as God failing Paul by not answering his request in the way that he wished. But this is not the case. Philip Hughes wrote,
"The Lord's answers to prayer are never negative, except in a superficial sense; for essentially and in the ultimate issue they are fully positive, and directed to the eternal blessing of His people...Desperately Paul prayed that he might be delivered from the thorn in his flesh. He was not delivered from that situation; he was made able to accept it; and in that very situation he discovered the strength that was made perfect in his weakness and the grace which was sufficient for all things--and in that strength and grace the situation was not only accepted, but also transformed into glory."
Frederick Whitfield added these thoughts:
"God's way of answering His people's prayers is not by removing the pressure, but by increasing their strength to bear it. The pressure is often the fence between the narrow way of life and the broad road to ruin; and if our Heavenly Father were to remove it, it might be at the sacrifice of Heaven. Oh, if God had removed that thorny fence in answer, often to earnest prayers, how many of us would now be castaways! Blessed it is that we have One who is too loving to grant what we too often so rashly ask."
God's response to Paul was,
"My grace is sufficient for thee."
Notice that God does not seem at this point to tell Paul why the thorn has come. Perhaps He did, for Paul ultimately knows why he has been afflicted by it, but Paul does not quote God about that in verse 9. There may be times in this life when we do not know why specific trials have come. I believe that if God is disciplining us He will make that clear to our hearts through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, for every parent knows that there is no sense in applying discipline if the child is not told what he is being punished for. However, if trials have come for another purpose, we may not know the exact reason. But what we do know is that we have a Heavenly Father Who loves us supremely and Who will never do anything to us that is not for our good. Romans 8:28 still applies, no matter what our circumstances may be. God's grace is sufficient. What an incredible thought! If our health or finances fail us, God's grace is enough. If family and friends forsake us, God's grace is enough. No matter how beat up we may be physically, emotionally, or spiritually, God's grace is sufficient. It will bring us through every trial. Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we should,
"come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
God's grace will help us to survive whatever problems cross our paths. It should be noted that the verb "is sufficient" is a continuous action verb. God's grace is always enough and always available, and His grace will provide for us through the duration of our need.
We have been saved by the grace of God. If His grace is sufficient to save us, it is surely sufficient to provide for us and strengthen us in the midst of our heartaches. Believers have entrusted their eternity to the grace of God. We should learn to entrust tomorrow to His grace as well.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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