Hi everyone

I do not know what Paul's thorn was but I do know he struggled with the old flesh. An honest reading of Romans chapter 7 will convince any believer of that. If it does not then that person is not being honest and therefore is struggling with his or her own thorn in the flesh which is that of pride or even self righteousness. They are also struggling with another serious thorn of lying to themselves and God.

This verse is present tense.

John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

As for me I have many thorn's in my flesh. Now I do not drink or neither do I smoke. I do not murder or neither do I commit adultery.I am sounding like that rich man in Matthew 19. This fellow thought he was pretty good. Jesus told him the following:

Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Of course the ruler thought he was keeping the commandments.He obviously was not present at the sermon of the mount or did not understand it.

 

And Jesus later said:

Matthew 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Now do you really think if the rich man would have sold all he has and followed Jesus he would have been saved? No as explained later the disciples wondered who could be saved. You can read it. Matthew 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? Jesus then said Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

 Dont you see Jesus was trying to show the rich young ruler that he needed a savior just like me and you.If the rich young ruler would have done what Jesus asked we would have had 2 saviors. Could not have happened! Anyway back to my topic on thorny flesh.

 

I want to say this. For the person addicted to alcohol or the one to smoking, I really know the struggle you are having. How do I know. Keep reading.

 

I have the same struggle as Paul did in Romans chapter 7.I have the struggle of the alcoholic or the smoker or the glutten or even the self-righteous.  We all have some "sin" we struggled with but I have an addiction that is eventually going to kill me.Of course unless the rapture comes first and I hope it does. Now this is not my only thing I struggle with but I am trying to prove a point.

 

I am addicted to carbohydrates and sugar. Yes that may seem small to most of you but if you have something you cannot put down it becomes sin. In my spirit I know it is no good for me. But my old flesh craves that addiction and ties me to it. No matter how hard I try to stop it the power of the flesh is strong.But who will deliver me from this thing. Thank God Jesus Christ will. Either when the rapture takes place or death of this old fleshly body I will one day be delivered. The wages of sin is death. We all will experience this unless the rapture takes place first.Once the rapture takes place these old mortal bodies will be changed. Why will they be changed.Because no sin will enter into heaven.

 

So next time you gather your thoughts and want to point the finger at another professing believer please take the time to reflect and pray God will show you your thorn. After all if we now have no sin we do not need a new body.

thanks

Mike W