As Peter the
apostle continued giving instructions to the “scattered”
Christians, he told them to “cast all their cares upon”
God because “he cares for” them.
In chapter five and verse eight of his letter, Peter told the
Christians to “be sober”
and “vigilant”
concerning their “adversary the devil” where
we read:
Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walks
about, seeking whom he may devour:
The
verse begins, “Be sober, be vigilant;” Peter began with
the charge, “Be sober” which means “calm, collected in
spirit, temperate, dispassionate and circumspect”, “be
vigilant” or “watchful, with strict attention to, cautious
and taking heed through remission and indolence some destructive
calamity suddenly overtaking one”. The Christians who were
“scattered” were to not only be “calm and collected” but
they were also to be “watchful and cautious” as well.
The
verse continues, “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:” Peter went on
to add the reason the Christians were to “be sober and vigilant”
as he wrote, “because” or “as though and concerning
that” “your adversary” which means “opponent and
enemy” “the devil” or “the one prone to slander and
accusing falsely, a traducer, especially Satan”, “as a roaring
lion” which means “howl, raise a loud and inarticulate cry of
either grief or joy like a lion roars”, “walks about” or
“makes one's way, progress and make due use of opportunities, lives
for, regulates, conducts and passes one's life”, “seeking”
which means “craving, demanding and requiring” “who he may
devour” or “drink, swallow down and destroy”. Christians
were to be very cautious because “Satan” was lurking constantly
like “a roaring lion” to “destroy” them if possible.
When
we meditate upon Peter's words, we should take heed to Peter's
directive. “Satan” or “the devil” is still “seeking
to devour” anyone who follows his ways. Let us notice in
particular, Peter gave instructions to the “Christians” which
makes us realize no one is exempt from the “devil's” ways.
We should be “alert, watchful and constantly circumspect” because
we may fall prey to him if we are not. May the Lord Jesus keep us
aware of the “devil's” pernicious ways, and may we always
stay close to Jesus as we watch diligently for our enemies.
Next
time Peter tells the Christians to “resist”
the devil, 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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