2 Corinthians 12:6

2 Corinthians 12:6 says, For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.  Though from here through verse ten is a continuation of Paul's writing about his being caught up into heaven, the emphasis is now somewhat different.  Paul said that even if he might desire for glory that he would not be foolish enough to attempt to glorify himself.  We can be certain that when we begin to attempt to use the gospel for our own glory, no matter what we may see or hear, that we are acting foolishly.  Paul said that he would forebear from doing anything that would glorify himself instead of Christ.  Had he emphasized his being caught up into heaven and what he saw and heard there, people would have viewed him differently.  I believe Paul felt that they would have come to hear him because he would have been viewed as a person above normal people.  Paul only wanted to be viewed as what he was, and that was a servant of Christ, no better nor any worse than any other Christian.  Verse seven adds, 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.  Paul said he was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him from being too exalted.  We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, but that it came from Satan in an attempt to limit Paul's effectiveness.  Verse eight continues, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  Paul said he had asked God, or prayed, about this thorn in the flesh three times.  We can be certain that God heard Paul the first time, but Paul either didn't feel that God had answered him or did not want to accept God's answer.  We can also be certain that just as surely as Satan will attack us when we are working for God, and that God will just as surely hear and answer our prayers.  We just have to understand that the answer may sometimes be no.  Verse nine declares, 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.  Paul said that God's answer, whether he understood it after every prayer or only after the third, was that God's grace was sufficient for him and that God's strength was made perfect in weakness.  Paul said he then would rather glory in his infirmities that the power of Christ might rest on him.  If we are able to do everything by our own power, then we are not living by God's power.  We must accept our own weakness in order to prove the power of God.  Verse ten adds, 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.  Paul said that he took pleasure in the bad things in his life, because through them he knew the strength of Christ.  Paul did not seek out these things, but he still had a joy in life because he knew that God was working through Him.  We cannot allow bad things that happen to us in life keep us from witnessing for Christ with a joy in our hearts.