READ: Titus 2:1-14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. :-Titus 2:14
Purification takes place so that you will be zealous of good works. You have been set aside for good works. Without zeal, without a drive, without a strong determination and without inexorability you will not be able to do the good works God has determined for you to do.
If God is going to use you, you will need to be cleansed of resistance to change, resistance to new things and resistance to youthfulness. There are many young people who are not youthful in their outlook. They have adopted a premature ageing syndrome as their default posture. To work with God you need to be young in your outlook, in your attitude, and your approach to things. Gradual hardening leads to many dangerous conditions that are detrimental to spiritual growth and happy marriages.
Purification is necessary so that the stiffening of your neck as well as your sense of entitlement will give way to the yieldedness and humility of the Holy Spirit. God will show you many rebukes because you are not youthful. It is not good that words like resistance, hardness, inflexibility and rigidity are used to describe you. Your personality and your temperament need purging.
God wants you to serve Him with joy (Deuteronomy 28:47). God will punish you because you are not enthusiastic about Him. That lack of excitement and wholehearted passion is unwanted and unnecessary in a novice. Purification takes place so that we become zealous and ready for good works. By the power of God, you will be purified of your laziness. Phlegmatic people will be purified of their self-righteousness and slowness. Purification tests are to make us zealous and to make us ready for good works.