Reading from 1st Peter chapter 5 verses 8 through 14:
“Be alert and of sober mind your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him standing firm in the faith because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kinds of sufferings. And the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ - after you’ve suffered a little while - will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever - AMEN.
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” (New International Version)
This is the third time in 1st Peter that we are told to have a sober mind. We are to pay attention - to be aware - to have a mindset of readiness and watchfulness. This time, however, the object of our awareness is the fact that we aren’t just floating through life unopposed. There’s an enemy prowling around like a roaring lion looking for something to destroy - to devour!
This verse reminds me of the beginning of the book of Job. Remember when the Lord asked Satan from where he came? And Satan replied “from roaming about on the earth been walking around on it”? Perhaps Peter even had that passage from Job in mind as he wrote that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Please don’t misunderstand. Peter is NOT trying to inflict insatiable fear into our hearts. He’s calling us to be alert and sober, yes. But then he goes on to tell us that we CAN successfully resist the devil.
How do we resist Satan? Peter says we do so by standing firm in the Christian faith. Even through times of hardship, Peter tells us we can be encouraged in the knowledge that we don’t go through difficult times all alone. Indeed there is great strength in sharing our burdens with one another and praying together.
1st Corinthians chapter 10 verse 13 reminds us “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man”. That’s a very fancy King James way of saying that “we don’t face difficulties and temptations all by ourselves.” Peter says it like this: “The God of all Grace who called us to his eternal glory in Christ, after we have suffered a little while, will himself restore us and make a strong firm and steadfast.
To him be the power forever and ever - Amen!
Let’s pray.
Father in Heaven,
You are the God of all Grace. You have called us to your eternal glory in Christ.
When we face trials, please help us to know that we can persevere because You have the grace to forgive us. You have the power to restore us. You have the loving-kindness to lift us up and to make us firm and steadfast. We put our hope and trust in You.
We pray in Jesus name - Amen!