DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE ROARING LION

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE ROARING LION

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." (I Peter 5:8-9)

I was hunting in Montana with my cousin. There was some brush, but a lot of dry dirt. The first thing my cousin warned me about was, "Beware of the rattlesnakes." Needless to say, I was very alert to any suspicious movement or sound. What struck me was that my cousin went barefooted. It seemed incongruous that he would warn me and yet not take heed for himself.

Many Christians walk blithely through life with no thought about their adversary, the devil. I guess they think that they will never be attacked, so they don't take any precautions against his bite. Or maybe they don't really believe there are any lions or rattlesnakes around.

God warns us to take seriously the lion that is stalking us, just waiting for the convenient time to attack and devour. Listen to some of God's warnings. "Give no place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:17). In other words, don't give him space or opportunity to do his dirty work. We are warned to beware of unforgiveness, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Corinthians 2:11). Satan will take advantage of our ignorance or inattention. Give him an inch and he will take a mile. The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44), and his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

This does not mean that I have to look for the devil around every corner nor under every bush. It does mean that I must be alert and attentive to possible opportunities for him to do his dirty work, and set up safeguards – that will protect me from his schemes. We do have armor available to "stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). One is "the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16).

The devil – the lion, the rattlesnake – is not to be feared because Jesus has defeated Him at the cross. But we still need to be watchful for his evil works.

Love, Dad