Week of March 23
A Roaring Lion
After checking with those who work with wild animals, I was told that there are three reasons lions roar:
- They roar when strange animals hunt in their territory.
- Lions sound a roar of triumph after they have captured their prey.
- Lions roar loudest when caught in a storm. They cannot tolerate the flashing lightning or the clashing of thunder.
Peter concludes his first epistle by drawing a word picture of Satan as a lion constantly on the move, prowling around and roaring each time a careless Christian falls victim to his deception.
This is why Peter admonishes us to “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Being alert is the antithesis of being in a drunken stupor. Each week, there are reports of people who have died as a result of being hit by drunk drivers. People who drink and drive have impaired mental and physical capacities. They cannot react properly to their circumstances and end up causing deadly accidents.
Peter is telling us that sin can numb your spiritual senses to a point where you are no longer spiritually sober. Your reaction time is affected and you fall victim to Satan’s ploy.
In contrast, a person who is spiritually alert views life according to God’s principles and values. Spiritually, alertness means being aware of approaching danger and having the determination to avoid it.
When it comes to the enemy, be very serious-minded. Don’t be flippant about his intentions. His desire is clear: to destroy your testimony and life for Christ. Therefore, stand firm in your faith. Commit yourself to prayer and you will gain the victory!
Be self-controlled and alert (1 Peter 5:8).
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