IN this chapter 12 of Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul tells of an exalted spiritual experience when he was permitted in a vision to see paradise. He tells us that he does not want to boast of this exalted experience, but rather to boast about his weaknesses. This seems a very strange thing to say; but Paul goes on tell us why.

Paul goes on to tell us that God allowed him suffer what he calls a 'thorn in the flesh' - some very painful affliction on which Paul does not elaborate. He tells us that the Lord caused him to suffer in this way so that he may not get conceited over his revelations and spiritual blessings. Paul tells us also that he prayed earnestly to the Lord three times that the Lord would remove this painful affliction, but the Lord's answer was that Paul had to accept this 'thorn in the flesh', and accept his weakness, because God's grace - his help and strength - would be sufficient for him, and that God's power in his life would be made perfect - demonstrated perfectly and powerfully - in his weakness.

The trouble with all of us is that we have an incideous tendency to pride and vain glory. When God blesses us we tend to glory in the blessings as if by our own power, strength and wisdom we have achieved them. This is not only sinful, but insulting to the Lord. It is really stealing from the Lord. It is like taking someone elses work, and passing it off as our own.

God will not use a person who behaves like this. Like this we become useless to the Lord. The Lord's power is made known and exerted only in our weakness - that is when he has brought us to the point when we realise that in ourselves we can do nothing, and are unable to do anything good, or worthwhile, or stand against Satan, or succeed in the Christian life in any way. When we realise our total weakness to live for Jesus, then when the power of God is made known in our lives, the glory is seen to be his alone, and we give him the glory in all things, and tell of his glory.

To be brought to appreciate that we are totally weak, even with any and all of our abilities, is a part in the road to holiness. It will be a painful road that the Lord will cause us to travel in the learning of it. If Paul needed a 'thorn in the flesh' to grow to know his weakness, then how much more do we. Let us pray for grace to hear the Lord saying to us "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" as the Lord deals with us gently but surely to make us people he can use.