1 Peter 5:8

New International Version

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

For Meditation

If there was ever a time for watchfulness, it is now. More so as we walk with Jesus to Calvary this Lent. The enemy has released his schemes to trap and stop the children of God from giving themselves away to the Lord through confessing and rededication. The church must therefore be on full alert (1 Peter 5:8). The devil will exploit your weaknesses and cause you to posture yourself against the things of God in a manner you may not realize until it is late. One moment, you may be on firm grounds, the next, you will find your feet in sinking sand. You meant it for good, but your words meant something else, assailing the principles of God’s kingdom. Ask our friend Peter.

One moment, he was riding on high praise from our Lord Jesus Christ. While the others scratched their heads to give their opinion about their Master’s identity (Matthew 16:15), Peter responded confidently.

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16).

Jesus congratulated Peter and affirmed the source of his confession—a lofty revelation from God the Father (17). But the next moment, Jesus was rebuking him for being the advocate for Satan (22-23). The rock was standing between the Lord and the cross, the very reason Christ came.

How many times have we not found ourselves caught in such situations—in discussions with your spouse, friends, meetings in the office, and even at church? 

Christ exposed the reason for our failures—human concerns! (23). If only we can look at things from God’s point of view (Colossians 3:1-2), we may avoid such dangerous traps. Our best move is to deny ourselves, face every struggle and pain with Christ as we follow Him to Calvary each day (Matthew 16:24).

You cannot lose the war over your life if you give it up for the sake of Christ (25). 

That is our call today.