Paul's use of the term "a man in Christ" is noteworthy because of its use here in bringing together the exaltation and the depression of this man in Christ. This is the only place in Scripture where the expression is used, that in 2 Cor. 5:17 being really, "If any one be in Christ [there is] a new creation." In Rom. 8:9 ,we find "in the flesh" contrasted with being "in the Spirit," and we often find the term "in Christ" used in many relations; but 2 Cor. 12:2 is the only instance of "a man in Christ" being found in the Word. The ten verses here are also in many ways different from any other part of Scripture. They give the only instance of a living person being caught up to the third heaven, into Paradise, and coming back to speak of the experience. Out of it grew God's dealing with His servant to preserve him from being exalted above measure. The man in Christ had not become secure from temptation by being this, nor by the abundance of the revelations. Neither his position nor his experiences kept him from the need of some affliction which should save him from pride.

God knew the danger, knew the remedy. This was His gift, a strange gift, a thorn in the flesh and the messenger of Satan to buffet the man in Christ; that is, to pound him, to bruise him. So that the being a man in Christ does not give exemption from such experiences. There are greater revelations, but with them come greater chastenings. The thorn was not persecution from man; Paul suffered much from that, but this was different. Evidently Paul did not know that the thorn in the flesh was the gift of God when he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. This is a striking example of unanswered prayer; or, rather, prayer answered in a very different way from the requested one. God did not remove the thorn in the flesh; instead, He gave to Paul a message which was vastly better than what Paul asked for:"My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

God first gave him the thorn, then gave the grace, the strength, the ability to bear it. Note the steps of God's dealings with Paul:first, abundant revelations; then, to guard him from pride, the thorn in the flesh; then more abounding grace to meet the need. Satan's part was that of an adversary, an attempt to harm Paul, who did not have to meet the messenger of the "enemy in his own strength. God took care of Paul, of Satan's messenger, and also gave to His people for all time a most blessed lesson. God's dealing resulted in Paul being able to say:"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." God kept Paul from thinking of himself as the man who had been given an experience known to no other person; and made him realize Himself to be a poor, weak, infirm mail. We think of the greatness of Paul, of the things he wrought for God; here we see him with his weakness, his infirmities, his humiliations.

The being a man in Christ did not take Paul out of weakness and infirmity, but gave him the victory over them. The man in Christ has learned the secret of victory. The life of the believer here on earth is a life of victory, of going on, of progress. There is so much to be learned of Christ and from Him, and most certain it ,is if He leads any one, that life is one of progress in learning the lessons He sees are seeded. The mistake made by so many is in thinking that something else would be better for them, that they know more than He does as to what they need. It is a wonderful help to learn and be fully persuaded that God knows best, that the trials and conflicts of today are the best that possibly could be for us. And it is the same as to the future. How many believers are worried over the future. They see so many difficulties and dangers, such dark clouds looming, that they are robbed of much joy which would be theirs did they but grasp and hold the truth that God knows every need of His people, and is abundantly able to supply all their need.

Can you think of a present or future need that He cannot supply?-not only just barely supply, but supply "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think?" The only limit to what God will give to any of His people is what is best for them, what they need. It is, "My God shall supply all your need," not some, not the great or the small, but all your need, so the only limit is the need. Why does God make such promises? Because He loves His people, those who have believed His word, those who have trusted His grace, have trusted Him. He does for them what love for them guides Him in doing. God has infinite resources and can draw upon them at any time in the fullest way. He does not have to do as men do-stop to figure out how much to bestow; how much their very limited resources will permit them to give. God has positively no limits to His giving except the need of the believer.

Then there is another truth here:our own condition may, and frequently is, such that He cannot now give us all we might receive if our own state did not require training for the reception of some great or even small gifts. Today we may be in a time of trial. We may lack something which we feel we greatly need. We trust Him, we receive patience and humility to quietly wait upon Him, and all at once we find ourselves in possession of that which meets the need. The time of the man in Christ here below is spent largely in realizing needs, in praying for the needs to be met, and then praising and thanking Him for supplying the need. Often the gift will be much greater than we expected; God has a way of doing "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." But He seeks to give so that we shall realize that the gifts are from Him.

Then His gifts never cloy, never are such as to cause us to tire of them. It is characteristic of everything that the world can give its votaries that the recipients soon tire of them, are sick of them, but God's people never get tired of His gifts. That is one of the wonders of His glory. The weariness of life always menaces the lovers of the world; there is no weariness of the believer's life. J. W. Newton