1 Peter 5
Summer is the season of baseball. I
enjoy baseball because of the skill required to play the sport, and the
strategy, elegance and tradition of the game. It’s a game that is simple on the
surface, but full of intricacies that require the player to pay close attention
to what is going on, lest he zone out and miss his opportunity.
Recently I saw a player lose his focus. He
was on third, and had been talking to the third baseman. When the pitcher threw
a wild pitch the young man was so used to leading off and returning to talk
after each pitch that he missed his opportunity to score. (The coach had a quick
talk with him that I am certain contained the phrase, “get your head in the
game!”) He ended up being stranded at
third and never scored.
Peter reminds us that we too can become
inattentive, and it our case, this is dangerous. “Be sober-minded; be watchful.
Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour.”
This world has a way of making us think
that all is well. Remember that lions don’t generally roar while hunting. They stalk
on cat’s paws. We go through life feeling comfortable. Often we are happy. This
world feels like home. It is not, though. We have no idea that we are being hunted.
Jesus promised that He would prepare a place so that we could be with Him where
He is. That is our home, where we are safe.
So what is this world? It is enemy
occupied territory. There are dangers all around us. Temptations to forget our true
home, strategies to cause us to forget our savior, and efforts to turn us from
saving faith are all around. When things happen that are clearly outside of God’s
will for humankind, we recognize signs, “There is danger here. The enemy is at
work.” But this does not deter us. Although we know it will likely bring us
suffering we still speak God’s truth and point people to Jesus, calling the
world to repentance.
Remember, we have been called by the God
of all grace, who has given Jesus to return us to dwell in His glory. He will restore, confirm, strengthen, and
establish us. He gives us the victory
and rescues us from the prowling lion.
Lord Jesus, keep me sober-minded and
watchful to defend against the devil’s schemes, and keep me in Your glorious
grace always. Amen.
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