◄ What Does 1 Peter 5:8 Mean? ►

We journey through our Christian life from grace to glory; from justification to glorification; from the Cross to the Crown. As we travel through life, there are many lessons that we all must learn, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher. The Word of God provides all the instructions that we need for life and godliness, for our faith rests on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself being the chief Cornerstone.

On our journey through life, we are called to be humble and hopeful, and to show a loving concern for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are also called to be on our guard and to be watchful in this increasingly godless society. We are called to be sober, serious-minded, and to remain spiritually alert to the wiles of the evil one: "Because our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Satan can dress himself up in many guises and disguises. He slithers into the lives of believers as the evil serpent, seducing those that are unprepared for his malicious advances and causing many to follow after worldly pursuits or fall into moral corruption. He sometimes disguises himself as an angel of light using doctrines of demons and a multiplicity of false gospel messages to cause many to fall into spiritual adultery.

He comes as the accuser of the saints and as the destroyer of nations, for he is the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning. He comes as a roaring lion seeking to shipwreck the faith of many Christians through fear, anxiety, worry, and depression; weakening our witness, rendering us useless as ambassadors for Christ, and stunting our Christian growth.

No surprise that we receive such a stern and vital warning against worry and anxiety and such a strong admonition to be spiritually alert, sober-minded, vigilant, and watchful knowing that the devil is an evil adversary who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking an opportunity to devour us.

Heavenly Father, keep me clear headed and watchful in these last days before Jesus returns. I know that Satan is prowling around seeking to destroy my witness and cause me to stumble. I pray that I may take this warning seriously and rely on You in all things so that I may not stumble and fall but stand fast in this evil day. In Jesus' name, AMEN.