Scripture for Today:  Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Our son loves to run.  In high school he was very good at cross country running.  The rugged terrain around our home was just right for training.  Later, he ran a few marathons and also did well.  The training for a full marathon (26.2 miles) is no little thing!  It is advised to begin training a full six months ahead of time, running at least three times a week.  So much of doing well is the result of mental toughness.  It is said that the last three and half miles of a marathon are the most difficult.

Our verse for today reveals Paul’s heart.  The image of a race for the Christian life must be a marathon.  Paul is approaching his last three and a half miles.  He is on his way to Jerusalem where he knows through the Spirit’s revelation that hardship and prison await him there.  He is compelled to go on, even when it means having to say his final goodbyes to the elders from the church in Ephesus.  Paul had only one aim in life, to communicate the wonderful grace of Christ that he had found.  It was a God-given task and he was determined to finish, no matter what.

That kind of mental toughness is incredible.  He finished his race well, staying faithful to the Lord and continuing his witness, even in prison.  His death as a martyr has earned Paul a special crown at the end of his marathon.

Can I be that tough?  Keep me determined Lord, so I can finish well.

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 12:7 “….Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me.”

The weeds are getting nasty in my yard.  There are a few that hide out and attack my unsuspecting hands with their sharp thorns.  I do not like wearing gloves, especially when feeling for roots, so I am an easy target.  No matter how vigilant I am, they somehow make their way into the bunch I am pulling out.  Some even manage to attack my hands while being thrown out!  There is nothing worse than trying to dig a thorn out of a hand or finger.

In our verse for today, Paul is describing a tormenting thorn.  It was sent by Satan but in God’s hands it was used for a good purpose; to keep Paul from becoming conceited.  The text tells us that Paul had received some incredible visions and revelations from the Lord.  The temptation for Paul was to boast and feel spiritually strong because of them.

What was that thorn?  Many interpretations make that thorn out to be a physical problem.  I am wondering if it was a person in Paul’s life.  Numbers 33:55 describes Israel’s enemies as thorns in the side giving trouble.  Ezekiel 28:24 uses the image of a thorn to describe malicious neighbors!

A relationship that has gone sour, a conflict that goes unresolved, or a family member that has no interest in reconciliation can all be like a thorn in the flesh.  The pain and discomfort from those thorns is a constant reminder that I am weak and not strong.  Like Paul, my only boast should be in God’s strength.

Thank you Lord, that I can delight in Your strength regardless of the “thorns” in my life!