Which of us can be kept near to Christ without some thorn in the flesh?
Faith, patience, and prayer, can overcome all difficulties.
Affliction coming upon God’s people is no proof that they are displeasing Him. Is God with them or not? is the test. Jeremiah was cast into the dungeon, and sank in the mire; but God was with him. (Jer. 38.)
We can never walk with steady step in the time of trial of our faith, save as we are looking onward to the resurrection of the just. In 1 Cor. 15:58, the apostle, in view of it says, “Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Difficulties and ill success encourage me; for “the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Do we meet with unkindness from brethren? Instead of shooting our bitter words at them, let us judge ourselves; and endeavour, in love and wisdom, to overcome evil with good.
Is the child of God overwhelmed by the trials of the way, and ready to turn his back in the day of battle, because of the rage of hellish powers? Let me remind him that Samson first slew the lion, and afterwards out of the same lion got honey and to spare.
When God gave Paul the thorn in the flesh, he knew not at first the value of the gift, and would have cast it away, had he been left in his own hands. The Lord was his keeper, and taught him, and us by him, that the strength of Christ is made perfect in weakness.
The Calling of the Church
The church is not only quickened by Christ, but quickened together with Him… If this truth were received into the understanding and affections, and lived upon daily by the children of God, their very garments would smell of myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant; and their conversation would bespeak their heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.