Thoughts on 1 Peter - Day 24

                                        1 Peter 5:8-14

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ 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.
¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
¹² With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

     As Peter closes this letter,  he mentions our adversary the devil,  for the first time.  It is as if all the advice on prayer, relationships, humility, serving, the body, authority, etc. are all leading to this. If you don't do these things watch out because the devil has you in his sights. It's not that he is going to make your life miserable,  that might drive you to Christ, but he wants to see your eternal soul in hell.

    Have you seen those animal shows where they do a segment on lions? The lion will go after a pack of gazelles or zebras and they single out one.  Like the Amalekites that picked off the stragglers of the Israelites, the lion picks off the weakest zebra. He goes after the gazelle that has been separated from his group. They are the most vulnerable. Likewise, if we are anemic, baby Christians, not strong in the faith,  not prepared to give a defense for our faith,  not in the Word, we are easy pickings. No wonder kids go to college and at least 70% of our Christian kids get devoured.  They had no faith of their own. They had their parent's faith. They had their youth group's or pastor's faith. It is so essential to make these kids strong before they leave home. They have to be able to outrun the devil.

    But secondly, we need to be in a herd. No matter how strong you are or your teen is, if they aren't in a group,  they will be vulnerable.  Even if something like Baptist student union is shallow and a social club, or a dating pool (I heard someone once say such things- someone who wasn't walking with the Lord) at least, theoretically,  you are in a herd. You are mingling with fellow zebras not lions. So many people see the church as optional. I hope they can run fast because the devil is after their soul. Peter says that he is surrounded by a woman (maybe a particular church body-a bride), Silas and Mark. Who are you surrounded by? He spent three years sucking in every word Jesus said. Are you eating, breathing in God's word? Look out!

Lord, thank you for Peter's wisdom learned from spending time with Jesus. Help me to take it all to heart and finish strong.  Amen