1 PETER 5:8-9

Be alert and of sober mind. 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.

TO PONDER

Ever asked yourself the question, 'Why me?' I think we have all done it, and perhaps we do it a little too quickly and a little too often these days.

The problem is, as Peter points out in this letter, we are not going through anything different or anything worse than what Christians all over the world are facing. We might lament the 'golden years' of the Christian Church (if there ever was such a thing). The times when Christian faith was common between most people in our society. When perhaps not everyone might have gone to church, but no one raised an eyebrow if they knew that you did. When Christian morality and ethics were the basis of most public policy.

You know the only problem with that kind of situation, is that it made easy targets for the roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

In the wake of the September 11 attacks in America, there was an anti-terrorism ad campaign here in Australia with the catch phrase, 'be alert, not alarmed'. It aimed to encourage people to report suspicious behaviour, but not to incite national panic. That's kind of what the Apostle Peter is encouraging in this text. Be alert and aware that we have an enemy who is looking for any opening to 'devour' us, to deceive us and lead us away from our faith and confidence in Christ. Yet in Christ, we do not need to fear or be alarmed because when we are 'in Him' we know that we are already more than conquerors in Christ. The lion might be prowling around, but we are well and truely secured in Jesus, the lion proof safari vehicle.

Christians, be alert but not alarmed. Stand firm in your faith and know that your not experiencing anything more or less than other Christians at any other point in history. God got them through their trials, he will also get you through yours.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you that you have given us your son Jesus to be our victory and assurance in the face of difficult times and circumstances. Thank you for the reminder that when I feel attacked because of my faith, that I am only experiencing what countless other Christians have faced before me, and that just as you delivered them, you will also deliver me. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle