Sat.’s Devo - Trials

Read: Ezekiel 35:1-36:38; James 1:1-18; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 27:23-27
Ezekiel was told to prophesy against Mt. Seir which means “goat-like”. The represent those who were not chosen. Mt. Seir was given to Esau who despised his birthright and sold it for soup. Esau’s descendants had never forgiven Jacob’s descendants because of the past with Jacob and Esau so they were doomed to death. They had wanted to steal Jacob’s land and defy what God had said about Jacob’s future. They wanted to plunder the fruit of their harvest. Satan is always wanting to steal the seed and the harvest.
God spoke again and said that when Israel came back to their land, they would grow and prosper. When they lived in it before, they had defiled God’s name with their actions and God was going to use them to restore his name on the earth. Israel was always a picture for earth to see God, and Israel had distorted the way people saw God. God would set things straight by cleansing his people who carried his name. He would give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them. They would follow his decrees and keep his laws. They would bear much fruit and by them the earth would be blessed.
James was a letter written to the twelve tribes that had been scattered all around the world. The writer of James was believed to be Jesus’ brother who was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. If it was Jesus’ brother, then he witnessed first hand what godly living looked like in Jesus’ life. He wrote James to encourage the chosen to live godly lives. He opened up talking about trials we all face and their importance in our lives. They are to mature us and grow us in patience. If we need wisdom, all we have to do is ask. God is wisdom personified. To be exalted in the kingdom, we have to go low on the earth. We will be blessed for every trial we go through if we persevere and don’t give up.
Lord, thank you for all the gifts you give us to walk uprightly on the earth. May our trials bring us joy and maturity.