“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.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be alert” means to be alert to the spiritual pitfalls of life and take appropriate steps to make certain that we do not stumble.
“Of sober mind” is an encouragement to always pray for Christ’s return, to be self-disciplined, to think rationally and not foolishly.
“Devil prowls around like a roaring lion” is a metaphor for Satan seeking to harm Christians in any way possible. Under Nero, some Christians literally faced death by lions in the Roman arena. An early church writer said this, “The devil tries every trick and does not stop until he finally wears us out, so that we either renounce our faith or throw up our hands and put up our feet, becoming indifferent or impatient”.
“Resist him” by God’s Word, which gives us strength and guidance to face temptations. We are not commanded to run, but to resist – to fight rather than flee. Victory comes when we remain committed to God, because He is greater than our enemy
“Believers throughout the world … suffering” … Christians in other times and places also faced persecution and have demonstrated the strength of God’s care for His people. Realizing that other Christians are undergoing the attacks of Satan and are being successful against him gives us the courage to press on as well.
God’s blessings on your day…