10 ENCOURAGING Reasons for TrialsSample

The next reason for affliction is given by the hand of the Master Himself, Jesus. 

In Malachi 1:11-13, God is grieved at how careless His people had become.  They were no longer giving Him a pure, blemish-free offering.  They had lost sight of the holy King they serve.  They had lost their pursuit of excellence in their service to God their King.

But then in Malachi 3:1-4, we see how God is going to use affliction to refine His people, to refine their focus back onto their King.  This passage begins by introducing John the Baptist, preparing the way, but then notice that it is Jesus Himself who is the Refiner!

Have you ever been distracted in your walk with God?   

Have you ever let apathy or the world seep into your soul, into your habits, or your behavior?  

Have you ever lost sight of the holiness of God, and allowed yourself to take Him off the throne of your heart?

This is when the Refiner’s fire comes in, allowing trials and affliction to refine your motive, refine your focus, and refine who or what you have placed your devotion in instead of Him.

Jesus takes that fire of affliction and burns away any impurities in our wayward heart, our wayward thoughts, and our wayward habits.

This reminds me of Revelation 3:15-16.  It is like Jesus, the Refiner, is helping us to leave our lukewarm Christian life and is refining us back to being red hot in our devotion to Him again.

Once Jesus has finished purifying us with the fire of affliction, we come forth as pure gold.   

Our motive and ability to love and serve Him fully and give Him proper glory is restored.

So, the eighth reason for affliction is to refine us for His glory and to restore fellowship between Him and His people. (Between God and you!)

Could your trial be a walk through the Refiner's fire to purify your heart, mind, and soul to better glorify your holy God?

Jesus is willing to allow us a painful walk through the Refiner's fire so that in the end, our fellowship will be deepened and restored and our focus will again be on the holiness of God and the pursuit of excellent service.  He is worthy of our best!