Cactus Thorn

Over the Christmas holidays I was able to do something I hadn't done in quite a while. When I lived back in Abilene, Erica and I would travel to her parents house (Stephenville) and visit for the weekend. Usually on Sunday we would go worship with her church in the morning, eat lunch, and then play an all out game of paintball war. I have played paintball since I moved to Alvin, but not like this.

We would go out to my in-laws and with about 10-15 guys, go and get bruised and bloody. Yes sometimes getting shot would draw blood! The fields we played in were great. Their land had a creek running through it with all kinds of trees and big rocks. It has great places to hide and ambush. So when we visited for this past Christmas we played paintball, the rough and tough way. When we were done, we showed our bruises, cut, and scrapes. On my right arm I had a big spot of cactus thorns. If anyone has come in contact with a cactus you know what I mean. Usually when you think of a cactus thorn, you think of a single long thorn that looks like a needle. Well, all cactuses have those, but they also have small ones that accompany them. So I pull out a cactus thorn, only to find more. And when I say more I mean probably 50 small ones. And what is troubling about them is you really cannot see them unless you have a bright light and a pair of tweezers. Anyway, I do my best to get them all out, but I have one spot on my wrist that keeps bothering me. I cannot find anything anywhere. So I just leave it alone, thinking it will eventually come out.

About a week and half pass and this spot on my arm is still itching. I keep scratching and look at it under a magnifying glass only to find nothing. Well about a week ago, I begin to squeeze on the now wound. It is gross because it got infected and all kinds of stuff is coming out. So as I am squeezing, out pops a cactus thorn about an inch long. I was totally surprised! But it only made sense that all that itching was because I had a thorn in my arm.

Well immediately after I thought about Paul's "thorn in the flesh". In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul talks about his "thorn". He said that he was "given" this thorn to keep him from being conceited. No one really knows what the thorn represents. Some people think it is a temptation that he struggled with. Some think it to be an actual physical ailment. Before he wrote the letter, he received a revelation or vision from God. And this "thorn" also called a "messenger of Satan" was to humble him. It was given to him to keep from thinking too highly of himself because of his spiritual gift (the vision).

You probably know someone who thinks highly of themself. You think they look down on other people because of gifts or abilities they have. But what about you. Do you think you are better than others? Do you think that your gifts or abilities are superior to others? God says in Galatians 3:28, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Our relationship with God is what matters the most. He does not favor one because they may be the best in reciting the periodic table. He does not favor me over you because I can yodel better. We are all one. That is how we need to look at each other. In God's eyes if we have clothed ourselves with Christ we are one. We are all equal. Maybe if you think you are better than others, because of your gifts or abilities, then do you think God will give you a thorn in your flesh to keep you from being conceited?

Live it,

BB