II Corinthians 12:7 NKJV

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. II Corinthians 12:7 NKJV

This is a sobering reminder to all of us that the apostle Paul had constant battles, a war of flesh against the spirit. Paul lived his life serving the Lord to the best of his abilities with all kinds of persecution, trials and tribulations. This reminds us again that there is an enemy, satan, who wants to stop us from living life in the glory of God. This thorn in the flesh can mean many things. Some say he had choleric, gout, pain in the body and so on. This term commonly used by the Jews for they often say, (erh) (ruy awh Njvh), "Satan, he is the evil imagination", or corruption of nature. So it can be summed up that every form of temptation that satan brings is to derail us from living the life that Christ Jesus has given to us. Paul exclaimed that God's grace is sufficient for him because he foresaw the weight of the glory of God that is his and his afflictions becomes of no effect. Paul is saying that these afflictions have kept him humbled, has kept him engaged and consistent so that pride will not take over his life. When we face persecution, trials and tribulations, we must remember the mysteries we have received in Christ to overcome and to stand firm in Christ till the end. The danger of not engaging in all the works Christ has done for us is pride. That causes us to be judges of all but not engaging in serving one another. Jesus is our Lord and Savior yet he served us all by laying his own body and His heart on that cross. Let us not go weary but fix our eyes on the weight of the eternal glory of God and push through every light affliction that come our way. Blessings Ambrose Francis