2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 – So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

THEME OF THE DAY: WHEN GOD SAYS “NO”.   No one likes to be told “no” when a desire or request is denied.  It isn’t just children.  All of us are not quick to embrace denial of any kind.  And sometimes refusals are not a small thing.  Relationships are often strained when constant “no’s” or refusals are put forth.  For instance, in a marriage. If there is a repeated “no” when it comes to necessary changes in a wife or husband or both for the good of the relationship, the “no” is not good.  However, in our relationship with God, His “no’s” to our prayer requests are always for our good, and should be responded to in a manner that pleases Him.  And that will only happen if we stay focused on why He said “no” to our desires.  In today’s scripture, we are given the “whys” behind God’s “no’s” in the life of the Apostle Paul.

First, the Lord told Paul “no” to his prayer request to be freed from his thorn in the flesh so the Apostle would learn the sufficiency of God’s grace.  This is paramount in all our thinking about the Christian life.  God does all things for His glory.  Yes, for our good to include “no” but ultimately, everything exists and everything He does is to draw attention to Himself and His glory.  In denying our requests, as with Paul, the end goal was for him, and us, to rely upon God’s sufficient grace that would draw all the attention away from ourselves and onto Him.  Keep this ever before us.  We exist for Him and His glory.  He doesn’t exist as a “divine genie” to grant us our every wish and desire.

Next, the Lord tells Paul and us “no” at times to display His power.  This means we must be in situations, suffering situations, that we cannot handle on our own.  The Apostle was pleading for the Lord to remove something that hurt.  Often we do the same, but what would happen if God did that all the time?  We would grow complacent and independent.  We need affliction. We need suffering.  We need to know our weaknesses because in those places of pain, and only those places, will we experience the greatest of God’s power.

Yes, God tells us “no” sometimes.  Yes, we are quick to rebel and complain when He does, but before we commit those sins, let’s stop and remember the good behind His “no”.   We will honor Him as we do.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to submit to Your will when mine is not Your will and to do so with a glad heart.”

QUOTE: “God’s ‘No’s’ are for our good.  Never forget this when He often tells us ‘no’.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim