March 12 - The Purpose Of Affliction.

Psalm 119:71
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
 
What a testimony to have during our trials! How we endure affliction speaks volumes of our faith. We too can say this when we remember that all the things the Lord does work together for our good.
 
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
 
It is through affliction, we are able to learn more of the truths in God’s Word that we would not fully understand otherwise. The promises and truths found in the Scriptures become more real to us as we see God work each of them to be true within our lives.
 
We will find that the Lord is near the brokenhearted, and faithful to deliver His children out of every affliction.
 
Psalm 34:18-19
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”
 
Though our afflictions are many, they give us the opportunity to see the beauty of the Lord and give Him glory through the suffering.
 
Psalm 90:15-17
“Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”
 
As Christians, we will suffer affliction and persecution. The Bible tells us that our days are few and full of trouble, but we must remember that the pain we feel here is only temporary.
 
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
 
If we want the Lord to order our steps, we must focus on the purpose of affliction…to learn more about His Word.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Numbers 23-24  |  Luke 22  |  Psalm 40