神的美意
哥林多后书十二章1至9节
1我自夸固然无益，但我是不得已的。如今我要说到主的显现和启示。
2我认得一个在基督里的人，他前十四年被提到第三层天上去；或在身内，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道；只有神知道。
3我认得这人；或在身内，或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。
4他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的。
5为这人，我要夸口；但是为我自己，除了我的软弱以外，我并不夸口。
6我就是愿意夸口也不算狂，因为我必说实话；只是我禁止不说，恐怕有人把我看高了，过于他在我身上所看见所听见的。
7又恐怕我因所得的启示甚大，就过于自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉体上，就是撒但的差役要攻击我，免得我过于自高。
8为这事，我三次求过主，叫这刺离开我。
9他对我说：我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。所以，我更喜欢夸自己的软弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。
信息分享
保罗曾经有过这经历。神虽然没有应允他的祈求，但他却愿意接受神的旨意。
保罗在这段经文中记述了两次亲身经历。第一个只是片刻的经历；第二个却是一生的经历。前者是一个荣耀的经历，后者却为他带来一生的苦楚。
保罗为了向哥林多信徒证明自己的使徒身份，特别向他们说出一个发生在14年前的经历。他从没有提及这个经历，但此刻他觉得有必要将它说出来。他曾经被提到天上，耳闻目睹许多不能言喻的事情。他只是简略提及这次经历，所以我们仍是所知不多。
倘若我们有保罗这类的经历，肯定会满心骄傲。我们可能会动手写一本书，名为「在天堂的所见所闻」。它必然会成为热门的畅销书。
神却深知我们的软弱和骄傲自大，这是人类的通病。祂知道保罗也会掉入同样的试探之中，祂必须帮助他去克胜。保罗在第7节说：「又恐怕我因所得的启示甚大，就过于自高，所以有一根刺加在我肉体上，就是撒但的差役要攻击我，免得我过于自高。」
保罗所讲的那根刺，究竟是甚么呢？他没有告诉我们。但它就像一根戳进身体的刺一样，使人感到极痛苦；而且，它还是不能除去的！
撒但与那根刺有何关系呢？神容让撒但把这根刺，刺进保罗的身体；但与此同时，神却仍然掌管大局。祂对保罗说：「保罗，我会利用这根刺来帮助你，让你经历我的恩典。」神就是这样帮助我们。祂用祂的恩典扶持软弱的保罗，祂也会同样扶持我们。
紧记的经文：
「我的恩典够你用的。」（林后十二9）
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.'