“MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU”

Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Key verse: 9

NIV

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting.(A) Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations(B) from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ(C) who fourteen years ago was caught up(D) to the third heaven.(E) Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.(F) 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up(G) to paradise(H) and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.(I) 6 Even if I should choose to boast,(J) I would not be a fool,(K) because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations.(L) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,(M) a messenger of Satan,(N) to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.(O) 9 But he said to me, “My grace(P) is sufficient for you, for my power(Q) is made perfect in weakness.(R)”(S) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(T) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(U) in persecutions,(V) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(W)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul's Visions and His Thorn

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and (A)revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man (B)in Christ who fourteen years ago was (C)caught up to (D)the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, (E)God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into (F)paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, (G)God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, (H)except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, (I)I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So (J)to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a] (K)a thorn was given me in the flesh, (L)a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 (M)Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, (N)“My grace is sufficient for you, for (O)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that (P)the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 (Q)For the sake of Christ, then, (R)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For (S)when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 12:7 Or hears from me, even because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul talked about a wonderful vision of heaven and inexpressible revelations to silence his opponents’ claim of spiritual superiority. This kind of mysterious experience was given to Paul to fortify him for his service and sufferings and solidify his hope in the kingdom of God. However, this kind of experience cannot be the basis of our faith. The foundation of our faith is the word of God revealed in the Bible. That’s why Paul didn’t boast about his vision so that no one would think too highly of him. Rather, he wanted to boast about his weakness. Why?

Paul had a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, which was something extremely painful or source of much distress. It was given to keep him from becoming conceited. Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from him. However, God didn’t remove the thorn, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Whenever Paul depended on God alone in his weakness, God’s power was manifested to the full in his life and ministry. So. Paul gladly boasted of his weakness and even delighted in participating in the suffering of Christ if it meant Christ’s power would rest on him. For when he was weak, then he was strong in the power of the risen Christ.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your sufficient grace in my weakness. May my weakness be an opportunity to reveal your power and glory through faith in you!

One Word: God’s sufficient grace in my weakness