2 Corinthians 12:7: And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Paul says he will tell us about his infirmities, but he will not tell us about the third heaven. Why? Because he was told not to talk about it. I think many times Satan tries to remove God’s witnesses from the earthly scene. He wants to get rid of them. He uses sickness, disease, a thorn in the flesh. What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh? I want to let you in on something, give you a little secret information which I hope you won’t divulge to anyone: I don’t know. I don’t know what Paul saw and heard in the third heaven, and I don’t know what was his thorn in the flesh. I don’t know because he didn’t tell us. Someone has said that the reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue! I suppose most of us would have wagged our tongues a great deal if we had been caught up into the third heaven. Now why did God give Paul a thorn in the flesh? It was to keep him humble, to keep him from exalting himself above measure, having had such a vision. 1
Personal Application
- Read James 4:7. What two things can you do to win spiritual battles?
Godly Encouragement
- Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. –Ephesians 6:11
A Biblical Thought to Share with Others
Believers with a limp and a thorn are worth following. – TWEET IT
A Prayer to Consider
Lord, thank You for defending me against the evil ones in this world.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
