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.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Your Encouragement

If we are going to maintain our spiritual integrity in these times, we must stay alert, as Peter warns and encourages us today (1 Peter. 5:8-9). He emphasizes this because there is a vicious enemy out there who seeks to do us harm. He is cunning and relentless. The devil is a master conman (Jn. 8:44; 10:10a).

Peter tells us to resist the devil and stand firm against him, holding on tightly to our faith in the true lion, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah—Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Redeemer.

We walk in His victory (Jn. 16:33). We triumph in His matchless name (Phil. 2:10-11, Rm. 8:37; Eph. 6:10-18). You are not alone in this battle. Christians worldwide are going through the stresses of this wicked world that has lost its bearing (1 Pt. 5:9).

The pressure to conform to the ways of current society is getting stronger by the day. Wrong teaching abounds, and Christian fellowship is becoming increasingly difficult, especially with the restrictions of COVID-19. These are times you can lose your spiritual fervor, become worldly, and see your faith ebb away.

But hang on!

You still have fellowship with Christ and His church. We are together in this painful experience. We share in His suffering, as we honor His holy name, regardless of its consequences.

So get in the word. Pray often, and with a heart. Ask for understanding and strength to live it out. Share your faith at every opportunity, for our victory is in the blood and our testimony.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev. 12:11).   

Shalom.