神的美意
哥林多後書十二章1至9節
1我自誇固然無益，但我是不得已的。如今我要說到主的顯現和啟示。
2我認得一個在基督裡的人，他前十四年被提到第三層天上去；或在身內，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道；只有神知道。
3我認得這人；或在身內，或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。
4他被提到樂園裡，聽見隱祕的言語，是人不可說的。
5為這人，我要誇口；但是為我自己，除了我的軟弱以外，我並不誇口。
6我就是願意誇口也不算狂，因為我必說實話；只是我禁止不說，恐怕有人把我看高了，過於他在我身上所看見所聽見的。
7又恐怕我因所得的啟示甚大，就過於自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉體上，就是撒但的差役要攻擊我，免得我過於自高。
8為這事，我三次求過主，叫這刺離開我。
9他對我說：我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
信息分享
保羅曾經有過這經歷。神雖然沒有應允他的祈求，但他卻願意接受神的旨意。
保羅在這段經文中記述了兩次親身經歷。第一個只是片刻的經歷；第二個卻是一生的經歷。前者是一個榮耀的經歷，後者卻為他帶來一生的苦楚。
保羅為了向哥林多信徒證明自己的使徒身份，特別向他們說出一個發生在14年前的經歷。他從沒有提及這個經歷，但此刻他覺得有必要將它說出來。他曾經被提到天上，耳聞目睹許多不能言喻的事情。他只是簡略提及這次經歷，所以我們仍是所知不多。
倘若我們有保羅這類的經歷，肯定會滿心驕傲。我們可能會動手寫一本書，名為「在天堂的所見所聞」。它必然會成為熱門的暢銷書。
神卻深知我們的軟弱和驕傲自大，這是人類的通病。祂知道保羅也會掉入同樣的試探之中，祂必須幫助他去克勝。保羅在第7節說：「又恐怕我因所得的啟示甚大，就過於自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉體上，就是撒但的差役要攻擊我，免得我過於自高。」
保羅所講的那根刺，究竟是甚麼呢？他沒有告訴我們。但它就像一根戳進身體的刺一樣，使人感到極痛苦；而且，它還是不能除去的！
撒但與那根刺有何關係呢？神容讓撒但把這根刺，刺進保羅的身體；但與此同時，神卻仍然掌管大局。祂對保羅說：「保羅，我會利用這根刺來幫助你，讓你經歷我的恩典。」神就是這樣幫助我們。祂用祂的恩典扶持軟弱的保羅，祂也會同樣扶持我們。
緊記的經文：
「我的恩典夠你用的。」（林後十二9）
DISAPPOINTMENT? - HIS APPOINTMENT
2 Corinthians 12:1-9
1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
7 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.
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Message
Paul knew what that was like. He had to accept God's will for himself, even though it was not what he asked for.
Two of Paul's many personal experiences are recorded in our reading. The first one lasted only a short period. The second one lasted a life-time. The first one was glorious. The second one was a nagging pain which never left him.
In defending himself to the Corinthians Paul told of an experience which had happened 14 years previously. He had never mentioned it before. Now he felt he had to speak. Back there he had been lifted up into heaven where he saw and heard things which could not and should not be described. That was the first incident and we know very little of it.
Now comes the second experience. A sensational vision like Paul had would tend to fill us with pride. We would no doubt write a book, 'My five minutes in Heaven'. It would be a best seller.
But God knows our weaknesses, our pride. We are all very human. He knew He had to help Paul resist that same temptation. Paul said in v.4, 'To keep me from becoming conceited because of those surpassing great revelations, there was given me (notice those words) a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan ...'
What was it? We are not told. It was much more than a rosethorn. The word is translated elsewhere as a stake, a sharpened stick. Something like that driven into our flesh would cause intense pain. Remember it was never removed.
What did Satan have to do with it? God allowed Satan to introduce this thing into Paul's body. Yet at the same time God overruled and said, 'Paul, I'm going to use that thing to help you prove my grace.' That is the kind of God we have. He will do the same for us as He did for Paul.
TOMORROW: 'My grace is sufficient for you.'