– David Virtue

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'” – Luke 22:19

George Matheson was born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 27, 1842. He was born with poor eyesight but was able to attend Glasgow University. As a student, his sisters transcribed his ideas and read to him. After graduating with a Masters degree, his eyesight deteriorated to blindness.

For thirty-one years he served as a pastor at three different churches. He had the ability to memorize his sermons and recite large passages of Scripture. Other pastors praised his sermons for having spiritual freshness. He was beloved by his parishioners, some of them not realizing that he was blind.

He wrote the following prayer about his blindness: “My God, I have never thanked Thee for my ‘thorn!’ I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my ‘thorn;’ I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my ‘thorn’. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.”

Thorns are unpleasant but they assist our spiritual growth. We can learn the glory of Christ’s Cross when we appreciate the value of our own ‘thorn’. Have you ever thanked the Lord for the ‘thorns’ in your life? Today in prayer, thank Christ for those ‘thorns.’ Thank the Lord that they have helped keep you dependent on Him. Thank God that He will remove them one day for all eternity.

“When trouble has smitten us, a spirit of thanksgiving is a soothing antiseptic.” – Clinton C. Cox

God’s Word: “and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:24

(David Virtue <
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