What is the Purpose of Trials in Our Life?

“Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for his people" Psalm 66:5

Job, probably the oldest book in the Bible, asks this question. Job’s friends accuse him of a hidden sin, since God seems to be punishing him with tragedies. Is this true? Are tragedies punishment from God? The Bible says, absolutely not!

Tragedy Can Bring Us to Jesus
We have false expectations if we believe that good deeds are always rewarded, and evil is always punished in this life. We live in a fallen world, corrupted by sin. Disease and disasters are a natural result (see Romans 8:20-22). Yet our problems and needs are the very things that can cause us to seek God and draw closer to Him.

Jesus was asked this question by his followers: “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sin?” “It was not because of his sin or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:2-3).

God’s Power Revealed
Then Jesus healed the man and restored his sight. According to Jesus, this man had lived in darkness all his life for this one moment: so that the healing power of Jesus could be revealed, and he would see that Jesus is the “Light of the World” that leads us out of darkness. Because of this miracle in his life, he was able to say, “‘Yes, Lord, I believe!’ and he worshiped Jesus” (John 9:38). And because of his testimony, many others believed as well.

Only God Can Do the Impossible
Many people turn to God only when they are in a hopeless situation. Seeing God’s loving care and power helps build our faith. Our testimony of God’s miracles in our own life may be critical in helping someone else to believe. “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead….. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness towards us.” Ephesians 2:4-7.

God’s greatest miracle is how he gives us a new life in Christ. Each believer is a beautiful painting, illustrating God’s grace and power to save. Ephesians 2:10 says we are His Masterpiece, his greatest work. So let’s glorify our Creator and proclaim his power to the world!

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His Channels

Rom.1:20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God [with emphasis]. So far we have examined three channels God uses to speak to us. If you are not reading your Bible consistently, if you are not listening to messages over and over again, and if you are not accountable to other believers, you do not have believers that are speaking into your life, you have already missed three main channels God speaks through. Channel #4: God speaks to us through His Creation. Ps.19:1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. 3 They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. 4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world [with emphasis]. God’s cre...

Setting Prisoners Free

Our Daily Bread Devotional 4th October, 2016 Read: Psalm 146 Bible in a Year: Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6 The Lord sets prisoners free. (Psalm 146:7) When my wife and I visited the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force near Savannah, Georgia, we were especially moved by the prisoner-of-war exhibit, with its re-creation of a German prisoner-of-war camp’s barracks. Marlene’s dad, Jim, served in the Eighth Air Force, the “Mighty Eighth,” as they flew missions over Europe during World War II. During the war, the Eighth Air Force suffered over 47,000 injuries and more than 26,000 deaths. Jim was one of those shot down and held as a prisoner of war. As we walked through the exhibit, we recalled Jim telling about the absolute joy he and his fellow prisoners felt the day they were set free. God’s care for the oppressed and liberation of the imprisoned are declared in Psalm 146. The psalmist describes the one who “upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the ...

Not For Destruction

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