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(cf./Job 33:14-26; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6). Even Satan’« hate and buffeting brings' blessing
general it is God’s will to heal His people’s infirmities (James 5 :14,, 1 5 },'bub there are cases when a continuation of the sickness will bring us a larger blessing than heal ing would, by keeping us humble (as in this; instance), or in some other way, but these cases are the exception: healing is the rule. In these cases Christ’s power will be ministered to us and His grace will be sufficient for u s.' Our natural weakness, whether it be physical, mental, or moral, ought not to make us hesitate at all about entering upon the service o f Christ; dor His strength is made perfect in weakness (cf. Isa. 40:29). It has been well said: “The Lord has more need o f our weakness than o f our strength.; our strength is often His rival; our weakness His servant, draw ing on His resources and showing forth His glo_ry. Man’s extremity is God’s oppor tunity; man's security is>, 'Satan’s oppor tunity’’ (cf. 1 Cor. 1:25-29). Paul, instead o f rebelling at weakness most gladly glor ied therein, in ordpr that the power of Christ might spread a tabernacle over him (the Greek word translated “ rest upon” means literally, “ spread a tabernacle, or tent, over” ). Paul was well content (the translation / ‘take pleasure in” is rather stronger than the Greek warrants) “ in weaknesses (that is sicknesses and other weaknesses), in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses.” What a strange catalogue o f things to take pleasure in, or even to be well content in. How few could honestly say what Paul says here, but we ought all to be able to say it. It was “ for Christ’s sake” that Paul was well content in these things, and the reason why he was well content in them was "that when he was weak (in himself) then he was strong in Christ. Sunday, March 3 1 . 2 Cor. 12 : 1 1 - 13 . Paul feels humiliated that it was neces sary to, say so .much about himself and what God had wrought through him. In his sense o f humiliation he writes, “I am become foolish.” But there was a good excuse for his foolishness; yes, not only
to the child o f God. Saturday, March 30 . 2 Cor. I 2 : 8 ^ip.
Paul approached the Lord Jesus three times in prayer about this thorn in the flesh, that it might depart from him. It is to be nqted that his prayer was to the Lord Jesus. He says in verse 8 , “I besought the Lord,” but from verse 9 it is evident that the Lord he prayed to and who answered him was Christ. It is also to b e ; noted that Paul prayed, not merely once, but three times, for the same thing. Apparently the 'first two times the Lord gave him no answer, but the third time that, Paul approached the Lord Jesus on this subject the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is •sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness (i. e., has its per fect manifestation in weakness),” The impression that these words produce in their connection is, that the thorn was not removed, but that Christ’s power was con tinuously ministered to Paul to give him strength in his own natural weakness. He was sustained day by day by the power of Christ. All this teaches us a number of important lessons about prayer. First of all it tepches us to pray to Christ. Second, it teaches us to ask again and again for the same thing until we either obtain it or the Lord, as in this case, reveals to us that it is not His'swill to give it. If the thorn in the flesh was sickness o f some kind, as seems most likely, it teaches us to go to Christ with our physical infirmities, but it also Reaches us that there are times when Christ will not remove our physical infirmities, but will give us strength in them to do His work. The probability, however, is that, He will remove our physi cal infirmity, and vte ought to ask Him to do so until He cltearly makes known to us that it is not His will to do, so. 'That was what Paul did. He took it for granted that the Lord would, heal him until He directly revealed to him that for His own wise purpose of love He would not. In
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