Read 1 Peter 5
Firm Faith
8 Be self-controlled
and alert. 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 your brothers throughout the world are 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 forever and ever.
Amen.
IT is always essential to encourage people in their faith.
And it is always necessary to warn people in their faith. Peter shows us how to
do both in this chapter.
In verse 8, Peter’s
warning is that you can never be complacent. The devil is constantly after you.
He prowls, looking for your weakness—a moment of despair, a moment of temptation,
a moment of jealousy, a moment of anger or a moment of frustration can turn your
self-control into sin. What is your weapon against your prowling enemy?
See Peter’s
encouragement. He says you have the weapon of faith to give you the power to be
self-controlled and to stand firm. Peter’s encouragement is that faith turns
your heart from looking at the moments of harm and suffering to look, instead,
at your eternal hope in the Lord. Faith also turns your heart to know suffering
is a preparation for God’s glorious eternity. Faith strengthens you to see how
you can support others who stand firm for Jesus. And faith points your heart to
focus on the Lord, who makes you firm and steadfast.
Be encouraged! Your
Lord’s power is greater than the devil’s.
A Moment’s Thought: You are firm against the devil when you
are firm in Jesus.
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