meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

What did Paul tell the Colossians?

Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.

Paul reminded the church members at Colossae that Jesus Christ alone is at the center, and at the head, of everything they needed to know. Because there were many false teachings circulating, especially those that were competing with the “Jesus only” doctrine, this lyrical letter, or creed, is simple, straight forward, and easy to remember. Today we do the same when we recite the Lord’s Prayer to invoke community and strength. “… protect us and deliver us from the evil one.”

What was Paul’s thorn?

2Corinthians 12:7-9 Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

We don’t know for certain exactly what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was, but it was presumably a temptation of the flesh. All of us who seek Christ, and perfection in Him, understand all too well that the flesh itself is the last obstacle to a state of spiritual perfection.

Our flesh is the one common humbling factor that no individual can claim to have overcome … not in this life. In this way all are equal, no one standing taller than another at the foot of the cross.

Each one of us know the torment of the flesh. Take heart!

Note: The “thorn” may well be a metaphor for what is suggested more broadly in Romans: the consequence of free will.