2 Corinthians 12:7-10,
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-to keep me from exalting myself!
8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul did not insist the messenger of Satan be removed from him. He simply asked the Lord’s will be done in the matter. He then accepted the Lord’s will.
Mark 14:32-36,
32 They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”
33 And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled.
34 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”
35 And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.
36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Jesus did not insist the cup be removed. He, too, just asked that it might be removed, then humbly submitted to the Father’s will.
Paul and Jesus both chose the Father’s will instead of their own. This is love. Love does not seek its own. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
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