Need for Buffetting

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (II Corinthians 12: 7-10 KJV)

The word "buffet" means - 1 : a blow especially with the hand 2 : something that strikes with telling force.

"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say (mock) unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." (Mark 14: 65 KJV)

The Greek word is "kolaphizō" and means:

1) to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist
2) to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely (Strong)

"Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace." (I Corinthians 4: 11 KJV)

"For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God." (I Peter 2: 20 KJV)

The disciples of the Lord Jesus are a "buffeted" people. All are "buffeted" or "beaten down" by sins. Sin strikes a blow at us. But, to be "buffeted" for our sins is one thing, but to be "buffeted" by Satan and evil men, for our obedience to Christ, is quite another thing.

Paul was beaten down and struck with the "messenger of Satan," his "thorn in the flesh," which seems to be a physical malady that Paul had, an eye disease, and which the Lord Jesus was unwilling to remove from Paul. This experience of being "buffeted" and "beaten down" by this "thorn" had good effects for Paul. He was taught how to endure hardness and suffering for Christ, how to rely on Christ.

All the Lord's people have their own "thorns" that the Lord refuses to remove. We pray for them to be removed, but they remain. We don't understand why the Lord refuses to remove our thorns. We say, why Lord?

The reply of Christ to Paul is the answer. Had Christ removed the "thorn," then Paul's pride would have had no restraints upon it.

The thorn that we discover that the Lord will not remove must be embraced and accepted. It must be seen for what it is, a means of keeping us from pride.

What is your "thorn"?

Father, help us, like Paul, to accept our thorns and to trust and rely upon you in dealing with it.