“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” (2 Corinthians 12:7b NLT)
There are things we do and directions we choose that are dangerous and dishonoring to the Lord. So, there are times, as in Paul’s life, when the Lord steps in and puts guardrails in place to keep us on the right path. For Paul it was a physical issue, but for us it may be something else. Whatever it is there are a few characteristics it will have in common with Paul’s “thorn” in his flesh.
First, Satan will use it to torment us and remind us of our weakness. For Paul it was a physical issue, but for me it was a failure. Whatever it is for you when you start to get too full of yourself and pride is beginning to surface, Satan will taunt you and the Holy Spirit will remind you that without the Lord you’re nothing and can do nothing.
Pride seeks to replace the Lord’s rightful place on the throne of our life, and the “thorn” the Lord allows to remain needs to be allowed to be a constant reminder that you and I don’t make very good governors of our own lives.
Second, it likely won’t be sin in and of itself, but if you don’t listen to the Lord and take corrective measures, it will lead you to pride, which can destroy any effectiveness you may desire for the Lord. The Lord is a gentleman and will not compete for His rightful place on the throne of your life, but His Spirit will make it clear that you’re treading on very thin ice.
Lisa Bevere writes: “God speaks to WHO we are BECOMING not to WHO we’ve BEEN. He calls forth DESTINY rather than echo HISTORY.” Our tendency as human beings is to regularly look back, reminiscing about the good times and reliving and agonizing over the bad times. Need I remind you of how God treats your sinful, forgiven past? He forgets it and reserves no capacity to remember it or ever bring it up to us again.
Oh, if only we were so wise. God speaks, there’s no question of that, but His speaking is always forward, never past. When the Lord forgives us, He doesn’t tuck our sin away so He can pull it out at a later time to torment us with it. He cleanses us and sets us on a brand new course, without the shackles of past sin weighing us down and preventing us from running strong in our new race with Jesus.
He doesn’t, as Lisa Bevere suggests: “echo history.” Rather He speaks life, health, and strength into who we’re becoming, not berating us for who we used to be. That’s why it blows me away every time I think about my heavenly Father loving me (and YOU) as much as He loves His dearly begotten (One of a kind) Son, the Lord Jesus.
Is there something haunting you from your past? Something Satan continually uses to break you down and remind you of what a scumbag you are? Welcome to my world, until the Holy Spirit finally convinced me that that person is dead, those sins are not only forgiven, but forgotten. Jesus answered for those sins once for all time, never to be remembered against me (or you) again.
Yes, absolutely, God speaks. He speaks life and health; He speaks hope to those who have lost their way; He speaks forgiveness and new life into every forgiven soul; He speaks wholeness into every life transformed by His grace; He speaks joy into our cleansed hearts; and He speaks oneness with Him throughout all of eternity.
It doesn’t get any better than that! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 