The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-07-17

IeXt.-My grace is Sullclent LOT tHet: lOT
My strength is made perfect in Weakness
II. Cor 1873.
Paufs Experience.-Here in this
we touch the extremes in Paups life,
and from the third Heaven in Paradise
where his soul was in such transports
of celestial JOY that he knew not
whether he was in the body or out of
the body, and where he heard things
which never mortal ear heard him
speak-they were so sacred; from that
glorious height to which God by spe-
cial favor raised him, we find him few
verses farther on plunging down to
the depths of human misery and weak
ness, as for a time the infrmity of
the flesh, whatever it was, obscured
the blessed face of his Lord and shut
out all the joy from his Christian ex-
perience. This thorn in the flesh, this
messenger of Satan, was the one
plague-spot of his life, the fly of cor
ruption in the ointment of his frag-
rant Christian life Down on his
knees in the dust goes Paul, and he
but thrice, that it might depart from
him. Then, like the rift in the dark
cloud through which the golden glor-
les of the splendid sun come stream
ing, illuminating and transforming
that which has been dark and forbid
ding into glowing, glistening noun
tain peak of heavenly beauty-then,
Paul finds in the marvellous love and
wisdom of God his thorn in the flesh
is to become all aglow with the glory
and power of Christ; that, instead of
being removed according to his agon-
ICED and repeated petition, it is to be
transformed and become subduing,
softening influence on his life. 1t is
60 be no longer a thorn of sorrow.
but a fragrant rose of gladness, and
his heart breaks forth into song as he
exclaims: "Most gladly, therefore.
will I glory in my infrmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me!'
His thorn has become Gods golden-tip-
ped goad to better service.
The Thorn in the Flesh.-Perhaps
there has been no incident in the life
of Paul over which there has been
more speculation than this thorn in
the flesh, and the curiosity to know
Just what that thorn was. As though
exact knowledge in this respect would
aid in better understanding the ex-
perience and learning it's lesson. am
decidedly of the opinion that Paul
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
left the nature of the thorn indefinite
in order that the followers of Jesus
Christ might realize that their infirm-
ity, their thorn in the flesh, whatever
it might be, could be treated in the same
way as that of Paul. and become glor-
| iously transformed even as was his.
You see if Paul had been explicit, the
| brother with a similar thorn would
| be claiming monopoly of this blessed
| experience, and "Me and Paul. would
be his theme, and many a poor, dis
couraged brother with different kind
of thorn would go sadly away bear
ing his unchanged thorn with him.
A thorn is thorn whether you find it
on a rosebush or a thistle, and the
same hand can turn the point of both
from piercing the tender flesh. So the
Lord can deal with all thorns in the
flesh and transform them into minis
tering influences.
Paul's undoubtedly was a desper-
ate case; his thorn of such a stub
born nature as to tax the utmost pow
er of Christ to help him bear it. As
Paul. under the direct inspiration of
the Holy Spirit. was made to declare
himself the chiefest of sinners in order
| that he might become the great exam
pie of the saving power of Jesus Christ,
so in his thorn he gives encouragement
to all similarly afflicted. If the Lord
was able to transform his thorn, if
His grace was sufficient to soothe the
decorations made by it's lancet point,
then there is hope for you and me,
and we can "come with boldness to the
throne of grace and obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need"
These thorns are present in every
life to greater or less degree. A
thorn in the flesh is an irritating in
fiuence or circumstance in life, any
oouliy lnhrmlty, any weakness, any
hurtful lust or desire These may be
classified under two divisions: Thorns
of permanent character, such as
physical deformity or weakness, and
the temporary thorns of daily trials,
difficulties, burdens, perplexities, mis-
fortunes, prosecutions, etc. Paul's
thorn was undoubtedly of permanent
character, but his experience has it's
application no less to the temporary,
petty thorns of the daily life. It is
the little foxes that spoil the vines.
and it is not so often the great thorn
which wrecks the life and DESTROYS
its peace of mind and its usefulness,
as it is the many little thorns. You
may have in your life the permanent
thorn. You know what it. is. You
most certainly have the little thorns
piercing your weary feet day by day
and pricking and irritating the busy
hands. This experience of Paul is for
you, and if you will but learn his secret
you too can rejoice with him because
the power of Christ can rest upon YOU
and make that thorn, big or little,
means of grace and tho ct ap,,ipr e+oo>