1 Peter 5
September 7, 2022
“Be self-controlled and alert. 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.” (v8-9)
The Lord and Satan both have objectives in our suffering. The Lord is using our suffering to refine our faith and deepen our dependence on Him. Satan seeks to use our suffering to move us to despair so he can “devour us” (v8). That’s why we need to stay awake and “alert” (v8) - so that we can “resist him” (v9). And one of the inspirations for our resistance, Peter says, is that we have fellow Christians who are also enduring suffering. After all, when I remember I’m not alone in my suffering, it guards me from slipping into self-pity, and inspires me to persevere with my brothers and sisters.
Father, I praise You that the enemy of my soul is a defeated foe. Nevertheless, he is still a dangerous foe, especially when I forget that he is real and that his objective is to destroy my faith. And so, I pray for Your ongoing grace to see his schemes, and to resist him by humbly coming before You and calling out to You (v5-7) - knowing that he can not stand to be around true humility.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
