Grace. Grace. Grace
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
dito sa mga naunang verses sa chap 12 talks about the visions and revelations na na experience ni Apostle Paul or na acquire galing sa Panginoon. (Verse 3)
Kasi during that time He was defending yung authority a ibinigay ng Lord sakanya against this false apostles na nag emerge sa church ng corinth. They were trying to question yung work, yung motives ni Paul for the church and during that time He was defending himself from their attacks, telling the christians in Corinth about not being deceived by these false apostles and exposing them by comparing yung work na ginagawa nila Apostle Paul and the other Apostles from the bible which is evident nmn po na they were sold out for Jesus, and they dedicated they live for spreading the Gospel of Jesus. Whereas yung false apostles/teachers, yes they are full of wisdom and charismatic, but the difference is human wisdom lng ang meron sila, with no guidance from the Holy Spirit. They were all about boasting what they know. They will feed you the words that you wanted to hear. They were pleasing themselves but never exalting Lord Jesus.
He could have boast yung revelations palang ng Panginoon kay Apostle Paul. It could be something na pede nya gamitin to prove himself, or to refute ung sinasabi nila e but he chose not to do it. Because he knows hindi yun will ng Lord e. And he will only do it for himself and not for the Lord.
And sabi nga nya ‘ I will only boast about my weaknesses’. Para ang maitaas, ang Panginoon Jesus and yung work ng Panginoon sa buhay nya and sa ministry.
Verse 7 So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Actually on this verse, I was taken aback, why would God allowed the devil to harass/torment apostle Paul and why would the Lord allow him to experience this. And dito natin makikita na wala talagang exempted.
And while I kept on reading and reading this verse, I learned na God allow this, is to protect his heart…from being conceited/proud/exalting himself.
Somehow we can relate e, it may not be the same scenario na kagaya kay Apostle Paul but I believe we also experience yung thorns sa buhay natin in many forms e.
It maybe an illness/problems/pain/economic struggles/difficulties sa work/family, maybe are being complacent, still living in sin, being disciplined..
although God allows all of these and we may not understand fully what’s happening behind the scenes but we know that we can trust God. He is our Sovereign God. Alam nya yung una at huli, and if He allowed something, hindi yun para pahirapan lang tayo, He’s doing it for own for our own benefit.
Examples:Life of Job, Life of Joseph, Lord Jesus
iba iba yung situation natin and how God deal with us. And we are in the process of transformation. And God is preparing us for eternity.
Sabi nga sa John 15, He will prune the branches that bears fruit so that they will produce more.
We are being mold
So that we will bring honor and glory sa Panginoon.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
actually dito na rebuke ni Lord.
Kasi tayo pag ganito na nakaka experience tayo ng discomfort, ang gusto natin alisin na agad. We are trying to dictate and insists yung gusto natin e. And kapag NO ang sagot, Tampo agad, galit agad. Meron ng doubts sa love ni Lord sa atin.
Example: Israelites in the desert going to canaan.
I learned na we need to change our response sa situation.
Kasi now that we know there is a reason why nararanasan natin yung thorns sa buhay natin, this should be an opportunity to get closer sa Panginoon.
Lord what’s the purpose? Lord, anu pong dapat kong gawin/or itama/alisin? I need your wisdom, help me to overcome this.
and while we are going through difficulties in life, hindi man tayo agad alisin ng Lord dun sa proseso nung pinagdadaanan natin, but never tayong pababayaan ng Panginoon.
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
it will be the grace of God that will help us endure yung mga trials na pinagdadaanan natin , by the Grace of God will be strengthened, it is God’s grace that will help us overcome yung mga thorns natin sa buhay.
And when we learned to give the control sa Panginoon and trust the process that is how we allow God to really work through our lives. Lord take over. Kayo yung maupo sa driver’s seat ng buhay ko.
10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
and now we understand na kahit mahina tayo on our own, we have Abba Father, and with God we are stronger. And He equipped us and enables us to stand firm for Christ.
Kaya after the battle we can testify na it is only by the Grace of God na victorious tayo. Na na-endure natin yung battles natin kasi kasama natin yung Panginoon from start to finish.
ALL GLORY TO GOD!