1st.Peter 5:8-9 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
The LORD commands HIS children to "be sober, be vigilant. . ." Why must we be on guard ? It is because we have a dangerous opponent: "your adversary the Devil" (v.8). He is an extremely powerful enemy and is on the job constantly, "seeking whom he may devour." Today's text describes him as a "roaring lion," one who wants to intimidate us in every way possible. In addition, 2nd.Corinthians 11:13-15 pictured above) warns us that Satan transforms himself "into an angel of light," enlisting the aid of his false "ministers of righteousness" in order to hinder GOD's work. Make no mistake -- the Devil is seeking to ruin us in every way possible, and he desires to devour the unsuspecting ! Therefore, it is essential to know how to be victorious over this formidable foe.
Sadly, most believers today are not attentive and watchful, nor are they resisting Satan by remaining "steadfast in the faith" as GOD commands (v.9). To be "sober" and "vigilant" (v.8a) simply means to be spiritually awake and on guard "against the wiles of the Devil" (Ephesians 6:11 pictured above), but too many believers are asleep and have been deceived into believing that being cautious and circumspect is "unloving" and "judgmental." When it comes to resisting the Devil by openly exposing and opposing his many schemes that are promoted by the apostate and compromising religious leaders of our day, the majority of believers reject any such warning or corrected course of action, having been lulled to sleep by a growing spirit of unscriptural pacifism. It is neither unloving nor unkind for Christians to be on guard against and to strenuously resist every false way. GOD requires such peremptory action for our good and HIS glory (vv.9-11). MHR
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
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