READING: 1 Peter 5
“Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
If you talk about or read about spiritual warfare much at all, you’ll come to this verse in 1 Peter: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).* Our enemy is always lurking, always watching, always wanting to devour us. Peter, who himself had been sifted by the enemy (Luke 22), surely knew how important it was to stay ever alert in this battle.
What we sometimes miss, though, is the image and sound of the roar of the lion. Our enemy Satan (whose name means “adversary”) roars loudly, seeking to strike us with debilitating fear. For the readers of 1 Peter, persecution and suffering were his means to devour their faith. If they knew that following Jesus could cost them their lives, maybe they would decide not to follow Him.
Our fears may be different, but they’re still the roars of the enemy. Sometimes they’re louder at times, but the origin is still the lion. “Follow God, and look at what it’ll cost you.” “There’s no way you’re going to be able to follow Jesus faithfully.” “Tell others about Him, and you’ll lose those friendships.” “People will ridicule you.” If we succumb to these simple fears, how much more might we have been in trouble in Peter’s day?
Our answer is still the same, though. We must be ever alert and watching, always aware that the enemy is around. At the same time, we’re to “resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:9). We are to stand on the foundation of Christ and trust the promises of God. We’re always less afraid when we know we’re not by ourselves.
ACTION STEPS:
- List the three most powerful fears in your life. In prayer, give them to God.
- If fear strikes you today, call a Christian friend. Don’t fight the battles alone.
PRAYER: “God, thank You that You’ve already defeated the lion. Help me to hear Your voice over the lion’s roar.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 John 1-5; 2 John; 3 John
*devotion first published in 2016
