1 Peter 5: Resist the Devil

Today’s reading is 1 Peter 5

Throughout this letter, Peter has talked about how we should behave in the presence of Gentiles who do not believe, who belittle us, who mock us, who persecute us. We suffer. But as we suffer, we behave honorably so those who mistreat us may be put to shame. More than that, they will be surprised by our distinct hope. Some will even ask about it. Some will be lured to our hope. Some will be won by our hope.

But right here at the end of the letter, Peter lets us in on an open secret. The enemy behind the suffering, the grievous trials, the persecutions, the afflictions is not actually the people doing these things. The adversary is the devil. He has one goal with the hardships we face. He is looking for someone to devour. You are that someone. He wants to devour you.

We must understand what is at stake. As we face the persecutions and the sufferings, Satan wants to convince us to abandon God. He claims we will be protected, safe, pleased if we quit living honorably and instead go along with the sin of those around us. Life will be easier. And, perhaps, for a time, it will seem easier. We may get to live “the good life” for a while. We may have great pleasures for a time. But all the while, the devil is devouring us one little bit at a time.

We need to resist the devil. We need to resist his tools and weapons, whether the tools he uses are godless governments, harsh masters, or unbelieving spouses. There will be times we think the resistance is futile. There will be times we think the resistance is too hard. There will be times we think the resistance isn’t worth it. Life would be so much easier if we would just compromise here and there, now and then. A little compromise never hurt anyone, right? No need to get extreme, right? I mean, its not like we have to be perfect to get to heaven or anything, right?

But with each compromise, the devil is nibbling away. So Peter tells us, “Resist him!” That will only happen if we are firm in our faith. Our level of conviction will determine our level of resistance. Do we really believe in God? Do we really believe God? Do we really believe He has a reward for us? Do we really believe His ways are good for us? Do we really believe Satan’s ways are bad for us? Believe God. Believe He rewards those who seek Him and resist the adversary.

Are you worried you won’t make it? Cast that anxiety on God. He cares for you. Are you worried you aren’t strong enough? Cast that anxiety on God. He cares for you. Are you worried you don’t have what it takes? Cast that anxiety on God. He cares for you. Are you worried about past failures? Cast that anxiety on God. He cares for you.

And remember, you aren’t alone. Brothers and sisters all over the world experience the same temptations and persecutions you do. You haven’t been singled out. The trials are not a sign you have been rejected. Satan’s attacks are not a sign you have been abandoned by God. Satan’s attacks are a sign you are with God and Satan is desperate to capture you.

Be on the alert. Keep your head about you. Be ready for the attack. Resist it. Cast your concerns, worries, and anxieties in the middle of all this on God. He will win. Therefore you will win.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is 1 Peter 5.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does 1 Peter 5 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 147: Look to the Birds

Today’s reading is Psalm 147.

Consider the Ravens

In Psalm 147:7, the Psalmist kicks off a second stanza of praise by inviting the reader to “sing to the LORD with thanksgiving” (ESV). He claims God is worthy of praise because of the order of creation. Not just the power of creation itself, but how the creation order provides for the creatures within it.

He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
–Psalm 147:8-9(ESV)

God brought this point to mind when challenging Job to consider his own weakness and God’s might.

Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
when they crouch in their dens
or lie in wait in their thicket?
Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God for help,
and wander about for lack of food?
–Job 38:39-41 (ESV)

But even more than that, Jesus calls this imagery to mind in Luke 12:22-31.

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (ESV)

When we read the psalm, we should have the same mindset Paul did in 1 Corinthians 9:9. He quotes the Law, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4). Then he asks, “Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake?” (ESV). Of course He is more concerned about us. The same is true about the beasts and their food and the ravens that cry. Is it for beasts and birds that God is concerned? Is the psalm not written for our sake? Of course it is.

And so we recall God’s promise. “Seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:31, ESV). God cares. God provides. He knows what we need before we ask Him. He wants to bless us. Let’s trust Him to. Let’s seek His kingdom and His righteousness and let Him provide for us as we do.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 147.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 147 prompt or improve your trust in God?

A Good Father

Today’s reading is Matthew 7.

Jesus taught something revolutionary. In fact, I think it is just as revolutionary today as it was when Jesus said it. He taught, through His discussion of prayer and anxiety in the previous chapter, we don’t have to live or pray like the pagans. We don’t have to stress about all the physical, material, biological concerns worrying so many. Instead, we need to ask for the kingdom first. We need to seek out the kingdom first. He hasn’t done it yet, but in the next couple paragraphs, He is even going to say, in so many words, we need to knock on the gate of the kingdom first.

I don’t know about you, but this makes me a little nervous. Don’t worry about eating? Don’t worry about staying hydrated? Don’t worry about exposure? Just pursue the kingdom? But if those other things don’t get cared for, I’m going to die? What good is having the kingdom if I’m dead? But Jesus says, “Let God worry about those things. You ask for, seek out, and knock on the kingdom.”

In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus explains why we can direct our asking, seeking, and knocking toward the kingdom without worry about everything else. Our God is a good father. Look, I’m a dad. I love my kids. But compared to God, I’m evil. When my kids ask for bread, I don’t give them rocks. When my kids ask for fish, I don’t give them snakes. I give them good things. I give them what they need to the degree I can provide it. How much more will God do the same thing?

This teaching is actually a bit deeper than I have previously realized. Remember, in this sermon, Jesus actually tells us what to ask for, what to seek out, and where to knock. Jesus’s point in Matthew 7:7-11 is not simply that when we want some things we think are good and ask for them, God will give them to us. His point is God has told us the good things to ask for, seek out, and knock on. He is a good God, a good Father; He isn’t going to tell us to ask for stones and snakes. He wants to give us good things. Therefore, the things He tells us to ask for, seek out, and knock on are good things. They will not result in receiving stones and snakes.

The kingdom of God and His righteousness are “bread” and “fish,” not “stones” and “snakes.” In a subtly profound way, once again, Jesus let’s us know when we ask for, seek out, and knock on God’s kingdom and righteousness, God will add all the other things, like food and clothing, to us. Why? Because He is a good Father. He knows what we need even before we ask Him for our needs, even before we seek out our needs, even before we knock on our needs. Therefore, let’s ask for, seek out, and knock on the kingdom God and His righteousness, because that is what we most need. God will give us the kingdom and everything else we need. That’s just how good of a Father we have.

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 7.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why are the kingdom of God and His righteousness such good gifts?
3. Why do we need them more than we need anything else?
4. What advice would you give others to help us ask for, seek out, and knock on the kingdom without getting worried about all those other needs?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?