THORNY BLESSINGS (Part I)
The story of Androcles and the Lion is one of Aesop’s
Fables that often appears in children’s books.
Androcles escaped slavery only to face a lion in the forest. It felt
like he was jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Feeling sure that
the lion would kill him, he began to run away. But as Androcles tried to
escape, he heard the lion moaning in pain. The cause of agony was a sharp
thorn embedded in the lion’s paw.
What to do? Should Androcles remove the thorn and
risk death, or should self-preservation insist that he turn his back on the
suffering lion? Despite overwhelming fear, Androcles pulled the thorn out
of the lion’s paw. The relieved lion joyfully licked the face of his
savior, and from that moment on they became bosom buddies. But their
friendship was tested when both were captured and had to face each other in the
arena. When the lion refused to kill Androcles, the emperor was so amazed
that he pardoned Androcles and freed the lion.
And they lived happily ever after.
Thorny situations don’t always have storybook endings. At times, no remedies are available.
Even the Apostle Paul had a thorn of his own, but
there was no Androcles around to remove it. So Paul asked God three times
to remove his thorn, but God appeared to refuse his requests. Paul concluded that the thorn, which he
described as a “messenger from Satan sent to torment” him, must be God’s means
of keeping him humble. To wit, there was
divine purpose seeded in his pain. (II Corinthians 12:7-10)
While your thorny condition can cause considerable
pain, there’s an underlying reason (and blessing) that may not be readily
discernible. When you cannot trace God’s
hand, trust His plan. Stay tuned…more to
come tomorrow.
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and
please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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