1 Peter 5:8-9, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”
Lions are known as masters of stalking their prey by moving slowly and approaching at an angle to use their intensely strong bite force to sever the vertebrae in the neck. The female lions, lacking a mane and having an overall slimmer profile, can camouflage with their surroundings and take positions such as left, right, and center, when they hunt in a group. They give up and don’t waste their energy on unsuccessful pursuits, often giving up after one or two failed attempts. Yet they are inactive for about twenty hours a day, and their activity generally peaks after dusk. They attack victims who are alone or not alert in looking for another animal to devour. Keep this picture in your mind when you mistakenly feel all alone in your trial, are suffering or being persecuted. Seek other Christians for support and put in place James 4:7, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Peter wrote 1 Peter, possibly in Rome. Romans imported lions from Mesopotamia and North Africa, which were used in Roman amphitheaters. Later, lions became extinct in Italy and Western Europe. The point Peter is making is that when we are feeling alone and focused on our troubles, we forget to watch for danger and are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks, who “prowls around like a roaring lion.” Peter would say that he had been there, who had experienced great moments and great defeats. He knew the adversary was real and called him a roaring lion.
There is violence and turmoil all around us, which has been prophesied in the Bible. Jesus tells about His return in Luke 21:25-33. He says that nations will be in chaos. People will suffer anxiety due to uncertainty concerning the difficult situations they find themselves in. Division is all around us and is heightened by being manufactured by our media and governments. But we have God’s provisional promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
We need to be alert and have Christ’s perspective on every situation. Ask Him to give you His eyes and His wisdom in how to respond. Stand firm in your faith in Christ. Hold onto your integrity and put on Galatians 5:22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Which one do you need more of? I can name several for myself. These character traits are how we can become more like Jesus. We need more of that today. Remember our greatest weapon is Scripture, worshipping and praising our great Lord and Saviour, and prayer. “Since prayer binds Satan, he suddenly realizes his plan is backfiring and he flees.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament.
Prayer and worshipping and praising our LORD is what Jesus did. He didn’t run. Instead, He gave Satan a Bible study each time the devil came His way (Matt. 4:4-10). So, fight against discouragement, feeling defeated, and ineffective, by praying, worshipping Jesus, and giving Him praise. This is the greatest weapon we have that will backfire and remove the prowling lion, Satan, from us, because he will flee. Jesus told Peter, the one I find most relatable, to “Follow Me.” We must do the same. Continue to impact people for the kingdom.
Listen to MercyMe – Sing (Like You’ve Already Won)