12
Checking my pride
Ken Silva2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given 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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul the Apostle was special in many ways. He appears to be self confident, ambitious and respected. He had success in preaching the Word of God and people flocked to him whenever he came to speak. He was a very influential person during that time. The Lord obviously showed great favor to Paul. The Lord "gave" Paul a "thorn in the flesh", implying it was a gift. Paul recognized this gift as a favor from the Lord. It was meant to keep him humble, to help him guard against being prideful. To remind him that only through God's grace is he able to influence and speak into the lives of so many people. It is also reminder that trials, difficulties and hardships are moments to stretch, learn and grow.
In life we are faced with many challenges. It doesn't matter if you're a Christian or a non-believer. One of the subtle, deceptive dangers that seems to be constantly lurking is the sin of pride. We've seen the fall of many prominent Christians who became "full of themselves". Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker and Cardinal Bernard Law are a few that come to mind. But it doesn't have to be prominent folks like these. That same slippery slope is also there for each of us. We must be careful when we have a measure of success, people speak highly of us, or we are singled out for something we've done. Flattery, though well intentioned, can make us feel more important than we are. Today's devotion is a reminder to me that I must keep my eyes fixed on God. That everything I have, everything that I hope to accomplish is by the grace of God. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Lord I thank you for this reminder to keep my face pointed to you. You place trials in our path not to make us stumble but rather to help us grow. That no matter what I am going through "your grace is sufficient for me". I need to empty myself so that there is room for you. Thank you Lord, amen.
