Seeds for 07/10/2024 - 1 Peter 5:8-9
Scripture:
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Observation:
Peter continues his council to “the elders among you,” leading in the church. It is helpful to remember the particular application this has for church leaders, even while the advice is relevant for all Christians.
There are two commands from Peter, each with a rationale provided as to why they are important.
First, “Be alert and of sober mind.” The rationale helps us understand why to follow this instruction and provides a metaphor to clarify what the instruction means.
The reason why is that the devil—the enemy of God and God’s people, wants to “to steal and kill and destroy,” the opposite of God’s purpose for us. The image of a roaring lion, on the prowl “for someone to devour” is vivid. If we imagine alertness as only a passing awareness, Peter wants to dissuade us of that notion. The devil (by whatever name—enemy, adversary, thief) is focused. So must we be. Therefore, “Be alert and of sober mind,” Or a modern translation: “Pay attention and keep your head on straight.” Counterfeit life slips by us when we aren’t paying attention and we’re not thinking clearly.
Second, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” Resistance is an active posture. If someone is trying to push us over, resistance requires a well-grounded, firm stance. Whenever I’ve faltered, I’ve ceased keeping both feet squarely grounded in God—in His Word, in His Church, in prayer, in His Spirit.
Here, the motivation is noteworthy. Peter exhorts his readers to resist the devil by standing firm in the faith, reminding them to do so because they are not alone. They aren’t a special case. This is what all the Lord’s people face. This is so important. Struggling to resist the temptations of the devil can be a lonely experience. We feel as though we are being isolated from the herd, making ourselves more vulnerable in order to decrease our capacity for resistance. So, Peter says, remember that you are not alone. Keep both feet firmly planted in the faith. Others are doing so for you. You also do so for them. Together we will grow in faithfulness. Together we will offer forgiveness and restoration. Together we will pursue the Lord no matter what.
Application:
Who helps you stand firm in the faith?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, keep me alert and of sober mind. Keep me standing firm. Keep me in your presence through Word, prayer, and the community of your people, the Church. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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