Thornbirds flourish amidst the piercing places others flee. Their story becomes either an unkind taunt or a beacon of hope for those of us called to dwell in the tangled nest of pain.
Welcome to the weekend edition of Faith for Living with Mike Milton. In this episode of Your Sunday Chapel, we bring a sermon from the archives and teach about the mystery of suffering in Christian life. This message, A Theology of Thorns, contains the essence of the Gospel, which 2 Corinthians chapter 12 teaches us is our staff to steady us on the rocky paths of life, our nourishment during the sun-scorched days of trial, and our hope and healing when dark clouds obscure the sun and cast shadows of doubt over the way.
In this reflection, we encounter the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” a profound revelation that resonates with the lives of all believers. This thorn—a messenger of Satan permitted by God—reveals that many of our struggles are not signs of God’s disfavor but instruments of His grace. These thorns become how God refines us, draws us nearer to Him, and reveals His power made perfect in our weakness. A broken, imperfect person who God uses glorifies the Lord while finding, through the transformation, a dignity—indeed, a nobility—born out of pain.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is most fully revealed in the paradox of the cross, where the diabolical intent to thwart God’s plan for salvation became the very means by which God accomplished His perfect will. And so it is with us. The thorns we endure are not wasted; they fulfill God’s purposes in and through us.
Thornbirds flourish amidst the piercing places others flee. Their story becomes either an unkind taunt or a beacon of hope for those called to dwell in the tangled nest of pain.—Michael A. Milton.
This teaching also confronts the false promises of prosperity theology, which equates faithfulness with ease and material success. Instead, it reminds us of the more significant and enduring truth: God’s grace is sufficient, and His purposes are fulfilled despite our trials and weaknesses.
As you listen, may you be encouraged to see God’s hand in your thorns, trusting His all-sufficient grace and finding rest in His strength, which alone can sustain and uphold you.
And so now, I commend you to God, and the word of His grace; and I remain,
Yours faithfully,
Mike
Michael A. Milton, PhD President and Senior Fellow Faith for Living, Inc. The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Here are six suggested questions for personal reflection and group discussion.
1. Recognizing Our Thorns:
• Reflect on the “thorn in the flesh” that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12. What are some “thorns” in your own life—challenges, struggles, or hardships—that God might be using for His purposes?
2. Understanding Grace in Weakness:
• Paul writes that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. How have you experienced God’s grace and strength in moments when you felt weak or vulnerable?
3. Challenging Prosperity Theology:
• Dr. Milton critiques the prosperity gospel, which equates faithfulness with ease and prosperity. How might this false teaching impact our understanding of suffering? How does embracing the sufficiency of God’s grace change that perspective?
4. The Paradox of the Cross:
• Reflect on how the cross exemplifies the paradox of suffering becoming a means of salvation. How can this truth encourage you to view your own hardships in light of God’s redemptive plan?
5. Finding Dignity in Suffering:
• Dr. Milton suggests that through suffering, believers are transformed and endowed with a kind of dignity or nobility. How does this perspective shape your view of trials and hardships in your life or in the lives of others?
6. God’s Sovereignty in Trials:
• Consider the idea that God permits certain trials or “thorns” for His purposes. How does this understanding of God’s sovereignty affect your ability to trust Him during difficult seasons?
Get weekly Bible messages drawn from over three decades of expository preaching at Faith for Living on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.
God Moves in a Mysterious Way by William Cowper (1731-1800)
1. God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in the dark and hidden mines,
With never-failing skill,
He fashions all his bright designs
And works his sov'reign will.
Refrain:
So God we trust in you.
O God, we trust in you.
When tears are great and comforts few,
We hope in mercies ever new,
We trust in you.
2. Oh, fearful saints, new courage take:
The clouds that you now dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace.
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
3. God's purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
Share this post