A Sign Among Us - Chapter 9 - Thorns

Here is a challenge for you. I need you to draw a line through all nine dots using four straight lines. The only rule is once you start drawing your first line you cannot lift your pen (or pencil.) Take as much time as you need. When you are finished read on. If you need help the answer is at the end of this chapter.

What's the moral of the story? We have to think outside of the box. Did I tell you that you couldn't go outside the boundary? The imaginary boundary, the limitation, you put on yourself.

'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.' Matthew 7:3-5

Am I writing this to tell you about your sin? - No. Would you agree that we are more alike than we are different?

I cannot motivate anyone... I can't motivate you. Your Pastor can't motivate you. If you have a desire, you can become better equipped with the tools you need to perform. If you don't have a desire, you can read and listen all you want. You can sit there and say, 'He ain't getting me to do anything.' Is the purpose of this to motivate you? - No. I can only encourage you and share with you. It is up to you to decide what you are going to do.

'... why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?' The word 'mote', something dry, a particle of wood, I think of a piece of sawdust. Let's think of the word 'beam', a large piece of wood used for building purposes. Sounds like a 2" x 4" to me. We all know this part of the Bible, and what it means.

I drive about 900 miles a week. I am alone, in my car, for almost 20 hours a week. I have a lot of time to think. As I was thinking on these verses, thinking about the word picture of the moat and the beam. I thought about the word 'thorn' and I decided to research it.

The term 'thorn' or 'thorns', is found fifty four times in the Bible. Forty times in the Old Testament, and fourteen times in the New Testament. I would encourage you to look them up.

We are looking at pieces of wood, of varying sizes. What do they represent in these cases? Construction debris? - No. Merely items found in nature? - No. I think there is more to it than that.

'It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up in the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 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. 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 12:1-10

We all go through temptations. They can hold us back. Or we can allow them to help us grow. We can allow them to humble us to prove us worthy in the end. '... there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, ...' How did that get there? Who gave it to us? ' ... the messenger of Satan to buffet me...' Satan sends it to hold us back. 'Who do you think you are...? Why don't you tell them about your thorn...'

The Lord allows us to suffer through it to keep us humble. '... lest I should be exalted above measure...'

Becca's Story

When Becca was five years old she explained it to me this way ... 'Daddy, you know what they did to Jesus? You know what they did to Him before he died? They put thorns on His head and made fun of Him. You know how they put the thorns on His head? Like this Daddy! And they poked in His head. Blood was coming down his face, like this. The thorn poked in His head, Daddy.'

My five year old explained it to me. She was happy; she knew she was going to Heaven. As she spoke, I had tears in my eyes. My Lord had to die, and why? Because I was going to sin two thousand years later.

Our thorns poked in His head. Blood came out of His forehead. Blood ran down His face.

Matthew 27:29, '... they plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head,...' Because we were going to use His name in vain 2000 years later.

Mark 15:17, 'And they ... plaited a crown of thorns, and put it about his head ...' Because we were going to have a lustful eye 2000 years later

John 19:2, 'And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head...' Because we were going to be sinners, never worthy to enter heaven on our own.

We all agree that we are not worthy to enter into heaven on our own. We all agree that we have beams in our eyes. Sins that we think others cannot see. That others cannot notice. What do the thorns represent? - Sin. Picture a thorn in your flesh... Does it leave a scar? You would still be able to function. Just with a scar... People could only see it when you went to the beach.

We might think people are looking at us and know. We are thinking back at them, 'What are you looking at? You can't see a thing.'

The consequences of sin are real. Does it leave a scar? We have seen things that are in out minds that we cannot erase. We have said things that are in our memories that we cannot erase. We have done things that we can never forget.

When you read the word 'sin', you need to substitute your particular sin in the blank. The one that's burdening you the most right now. I want you to substitute your thorn that the Lord probably is allowing you to bear.

What is the worst sin in the eyes of the Lord? Sin is sin. You can say, 'Well I never murdered anyone.'

I know when I am weak and I give in, there are consequences to bear. I had to get to a point in my life, when I stopped blaming satan for everyone of my sins. Satan did not have to push too hard, for me to fall. It was my flesh ... I wanted to feel good. I was trying to fill a void. I was trying to fill a God shaped void, with garbage. I was trying to fill a God shaped void, which only Jesus could fill. What are you trying to fill your void with?

I had to get tired enough to say, 'Lord, I give up.' Isn't it sad we have to get to the bottom before we learn? I thought I could do it all on my own. In addition, there I was sitting in the Food Stamp parking lot. Too proud to go in. My son in the back seat. 'Daddy, me want French fries...' Sorry Cody, Daddy doesn't have any money, 'No ... No money ...'

'The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.' Proverbs 15:19

Lord I don't want to be slothful ... Lord, I need my ways to be made plain.

I had to get sick and tired of being sick and tired. I couldn't do it. I was trying. I was trying hard. I needed help. I had to ask the Lord, 'Help me please.' Are you sick and tired? Do you need help? I can't help you, remember I am only sharing and encouraging. Who can help? - That's right, Jesus.

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