The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 12:6-7, “For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish,

for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one

may credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this

reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn

in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me– to keep me from

exalting myself!”

These verses depict Paul’s attitude after his experience of being

caught up into Paradise. It was a marvelous and mystical experience,

to say the least. Some believers’ experiences have come close to

that of the apostle. D. L. Moody, in his dying hours, described being

moved toward Heaven and its glories, while Earth was receding.

No one knows how Moody would have reacted, had he lived after

that. Paul understood his human nature and how he would have

been tempted to boast of his experience; therefore, the LORD gave

him a “thorn in the flesh“ to keep him from thinking more highly

of himself than he ought to think.

There are multiple ideas afloat as to what Paul’s “thorn” actually

was. We may never know for sure, but he seems to have had an

eye problem (see Gal. 6:11). Whatever it was, it kept him humble.

Our problems differ, but they are all intended to keep us from

thinking more highly of ourselves than we should. Does that mean

we should go around moping, saying, “Oh, poor me. I’m just so

unworthy. I’m just not fit for anything”? Absolutely not! Nor are

we to say, “Hey, look at me! There’s no one who can be or do what

I can!” When we accomplish something, we are to see how the LORD

enabled us to do it, and give Him the glory. Our strengths and

accomplishments are from Him, and He alone should be credited

with the notoriety. Certainly, the LORD uses others to accomplish

great things, some of which accrue to our benefit. In such cases,

we should view their accomplishments as the LORD’s working through

them for our benefit, but always for His glory!

You are ever in our daily prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Update on Nana: When I left the hospital last night, she was upbeat,

and doing better. She will have an X-Ray today to

determine the decline in the pneumonia. Stay tuned—

and keep praying with thanksgiving!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”