Peter the
apostle instructed the “elders” and “younger”
who were among the “scattered” Christians. He told them to “be
sober” and “vigilant” because their “adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour”. In chapter five and verse nine of his letter, Peter
told the Christians to “resist” the devil “steadfast
in the faith” where we read:
Whom
resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
The
verse begins, “Whom resist steadfast in the faith,...”
Peter began with the phrase, “Whom resist”
which means “to set one's self against, withstand and oppose the
devil” “stedfast”
or “strong, firm, immovable, solid, hard and rigid” “in
the faith” which refers to
“conviction of the truth of anything and the conviction that God
exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the provider
and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
Peter continued with the words, “knowing” “seeing,
perceiving, noticing, discerning and discovering” “that
the same” which means “the
devil's” “afflictions”
or “that which one suffers or has suffered, misfortune, calamity
and evil” “are accomplished”
which means “brought to an end, accomplished, perfected, executed
and completed” “in your brethren”
which refers to “the brotherhood and family of brothers” “that
are in” or “within and by”
“the world” which
means “an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order and
government”.
As
we think through these words of Peter, we begin to understand what we
are to do with “the devil”.
We are to “resist”,
“withstand” and “oppose” him. The “devil”
continues to roam in the world today, and he manifests himself in
various ways and in different people which are in opposition to God.
He also comes against Christians, and when we discover behavior and
speech which is contrary to the “word of God” and leads to the
“suffering” of
other brothers and sisters in Christ, by the grace and help of our
Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, let us “resist”
every effort to dispel the truth which our Lord conveys.
Next
time Peter tells the Christians what will happen when they have
“suffered a little while”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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