HarborPointe community church

This morning I want to talk about the painful issues in our life that impact us spiritually. These painful issues are characterized by two symbols in the New Testament. One is the cross and the other is the thorn.
In Matthew 16, Jesus pulls his disciples together and talks with them about his life and ministry that will soon be coming to an end…his own literal cross (Matt 16:21-22).
Then he invites his disciples to pick up their own literal cross (Matt 16:23-24).
Meanwhile, Luke understands Jesus to be talking about not only a literal cross, but a symbolic cross that we take up daily (Lk 9:22-23).
Paul understands that the cross of Jesus when connected to our cross is the essence of the gospel and saves our soul (1 Cor 1:17-18)
Paul also talks about a “thorn in the flesh” that is painful and irritating, but isn’t exactly a cross…but it too can help save our souls when we understand that our weaknesses can turn out to be our greatest blessings and strength (2 Cor 12:7-10).
Maybe in some way, our thorns are connected to our crosses…they intersect and call us to a deeper healing and a deeper understanding of grace.