Most Read Bible Verses---#35---II Corinthians 12:7-9

II Corinthians 12:7-9 (NLT)

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 

The phrase “thorn in the flesh” is a familiar phrase to most people, even those who know nothing about the Bible.  What Paul really meant by this term is unknown.  Various theories have been proposed.  They could have physical maladies such as partial blindness, incessant pain, malaria, migraines, epilepsy, or a speech disability, something he alludes to in II Corinthians 10:10.  They could have been spiritual challenges such as incessant temptation, satanic attacks, or threats from his opponents.  On a humorous note, it has been suggested that Paul was married and the thorn in his flesh was you know who.

Paul does describe his thorn in the flesh as a messenger of Satan to torment him.  We know from the story of Job that God will allow Satan to attack people with the ultimate purpose being that those attacked will fulfill God’s purposes for their lives and God will end up being glorified even more than if the attack had not occurred.   

Paul also states that there was a purpose to this problem.  First, it was to keep him humble.  Anyone with his prominence would have issues with ego and pride.  Today this is a major challenge with pastors who have enormous flocks; how can they not help but think how good they must be for so many people to be following them?  Second, the thorny problem gave God the opportunity to show His grace and power.  It is through God’s grace and power that people can continue to live their lives with their heads up even with the thorny problems in their lives, problems so serious that, like Paul, they plead with God repeatedly to remove it

It is a hard truth to comprehend and accept that God allows serious challenges and significant personal struggles to enter your life in order that His grace and power might be evidenced through you. Whatever makes you weak, that is what God will put into your life. 

What is the thorn(s) in your side?  You likely can list many afflictions and struggles.  How should you face these thorns?  This is what is so difficult to teach and for Christian people to learn.  You need to face your struggles by recognizing and accepting that they are present so that God can work through them in your life.  Physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles are areas of weakness in your life through which God can make you strong.  When you feel weak, when you are feeling the most helpless, that’s when God’s power prevails, that’s when you receive His strength and power to face and fight against your struggles.  This is also when you stop giving credit to yourself, and give God the credit for helping you through the struggle(s).  Yet, keep in mind that struggles will always be present and you should not expect that there will be times in your life, as a Christian, when you will have nothing troublesome facing you.  Be reassured, be strengthened by the truth of this passage that whenever you are facing difficulties, you are never alone and you will receive power to help you face and overcome those difficulties. 

I recommend that you read Ken Gire’s book, Windows of the Soul: Experiencing God (Zondervan, 1996) that will give you further food for thought and encouragement as you deal with your weaknesses and how God’s power is perfected in them. 

Most Read Bible Verses----#36---Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 

Your salvation comes from both believing and speaking.  Your believing is an internal matter, between you and God.  Your speaking is an external matter, between you and other people.  Your heart (‘kardia’ in the Greek) is the center of your physical and spiritual life.  It is your soul and your mind as well as it is the fountain and seat of the your thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors.  Your mouth (‘stoma’ in the Greek) is the verbal utterance of what is in your heart (Matthew 15:18).

Salvation means that you are set free from the eternal judgment of God.  It means that you are no longer a slave to sin.  Sin still exists in life, but a person who is saved keeps trying to run away from sin while the person who is unsaved keep running toward it.  It’s the attitude and resultant actions that change once a person is saved.  Salvation, according to this passage, means that you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord because you readily confess this truth with your mouth.  Salvation also means that you believe within your heart that Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead by God. 

In I John 4:2, there is a very important test that the Bible gives you to determine the true belief of someone, including yourself, about Jesus Christ and the proof that His Spirit lives within the person.  The proof is this---the confession that Jesus Christ is God Incarnate.  That is, you believe that Jesus is God and that God became flesh in Christ to save mankind from their sin nature.  If you do not believe that Jesus is God Incarnate (God in the flesh) and is one with God, you are not saved because you do not have the Holy Spirit within you to glorify God. 

Note that this passage affirms that you must believe in Jesus as the Lord of your life.  People might believe that Jesus is their Savior, but don’t live their lives with Him as their Lord.  Salvation is based both on believing in Jesus as your Lord and as the Savior of your life.  I know that I used to testify that I invited Jesus in my life to be my Savior but I didn’t follow Him as Lord for several years.  I really believed that I was saved, yet I didn’t go to church, didn’t read the Bible, didn’t do anything for the Lord.  I’ll always wonder if I was truly saved in those earlier years before I finally rededicated my life to Christ that involved getting active as a Christian and serving God through serving others.  Make sure that if you believe that you are saved that you are showing the works that back up your faith (read James 2:14-26); that Jesus is indeed Lord as well as Savior of your life. 

Why does confession come first, then belief in verse 9 while verse 10 has belief coming first, then confession?  William MacDonald in Believer’s Bible Commentary (p. 1722) wrote that verse 9 emphasizes Jesus coming to earth (Incarnation, Jesus is Lord) and His resurrection (God raised Him from the dead) that occurred in chronological order.  In verse 10 the emphasis is on the order of events in the salvation of a sinner.  First, belief, then the public confession of his/her salvation. 

Can you claim these verses as your own?  If not, is it not time to take action on what the Bible says and believe with all your heart that Jesus came to save you and become the Lord of your life and then confess Him as your Savior and Lord both privately and then publicly.  Your eternal destiny depends on this decision.  

Most Read Bible Verses---#37---Isaiah 41:10

Isaiah 41:10 (GN)

Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.

Many things, situations, and people in life terrify us.  Think of all the “phobias” in life; there are various websites that list phobias and they amount to over 400.  The most common phobias that terrify the most people are fear of snakes and/or other animals like insects and rodents, height, darkness, confined spaces, flying, public speaking, illness, storms, and dying and death.  There are always new things that terrify people, one of the newest related to cell phones, either not having one or being in places where you cannot use one. 

There is another kind of phobia or situation that causes great fear and terror—waiting for news.  I’m talking about waiting to hear the results of medical tests.  Waiting to find out news about something you need to know about (e.g. new job, new position, sale of a home, decision someone else has to make, etc.), but are helpless to do anything but wait.  Waiting means uncertainty.  Uncertainty produces all kinds of problems—depression, anxiety, negativism, worry, and, of course, fear even to the point of terror.  Many reading this know exactly what I am referring to.  You or a loved one have developed a growth somewhere in your body and have had samples taken for testing.  You have had to wait for the test results and the waiting and all its uncertainty have been terrifying.  Indeed our human nature compels us to fear the worst.

Uncertainties are part of life.  I read a quote by John Allen Paulos (Temple University mathematics professor) that sort of sums up this fact—“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security”.  The Bible consistently teaches the importance of not fearing or worrying, but instead turning over your fears and worries to God.  When the disciples were scared to death during a storm on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus suddenly appeared, what did He say to them?  --- “Do not be afraid, take courage, for I am here” (Matthew 14:27).  As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, He was not afraid and was able to walk on the water, but as soon as he looked away from Jesus, he became terrified and would have drowned had Jesus not saved him. 

Isaiah writes that God’s people must not be afraid simply because God is with you.  Of course, like so much of what is taught as truth in the Bible, it takes faith to believe and to act on what the Bible teaches.  God promises to help you and protect you during your time of waiting, during a life filled with uncertainties.  Indeed, strong faith enables you to be strong period and face whatever you are facing, not just with courage but also with a drive to do something proactive.  There’s a quote in the businessworld “Uncertainty will always be part of the taking charge process” (Harold  S. Geneen, CEO of ITT) that I think applies to the Christian waiting for some kind of result and/or decision.  You can take charge of your situation by determining in your heart that no matter what, God is in control and He will “make you strong and help you, He will protect and save you”. 

Read over the following passages and let them sink deeply in your heart as you are going through a period of uncertainty:

·  Joshua 1:9….This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

·  Psalm 27:14….Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous……

·  Psalm 31:24….So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord! 

·  Matthew 11:28-30….Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest………and you will find rest for your souls……..

·  II Timothy 1:7….For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

·  Hebrews 13:5-6….I will never leave you nor forsake you…….The Lord is my helper, I will not fear…..