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Daily Devotions

1 Peter

1 Peter 
Day 
Day 86

"Be sober, be vigilant"

Text: 1 Peter 5:8

OUR SPIRITUAL ADVERSARY

There were many challenges that the Christians in the first century had to face. There were persecutions to be endured. There were temptations from the world to be resisted. Perhaps the greatest challenge lay in the spiritual realm. The greatest adversary would be the Evil One.

“Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8

1. “Be sober, be vigilant”

a) Sobriety

i) This word was used in 1 Peter 4:7.

ii) It was translated as “be serious”.

iii) In the context of 1 Peter 4:7 this is associated with prayer.

b) “Be vigilant”

i) This word was used by the Lord Jesus.

ii) He urged His disciples to “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41).

iii) In that context, it was associated with prayer.

2. “Because your adversary the devil”

a) “Your adversary”

i) This word “adversary” means “the one who is against righteousness”.

ii) He is described as one who is opposed to righteousness.

iii) Believers who seek to live righteously would be opposed by him.

b) “The devil”

i) The word for “devil” is “diabolos”.

ii) The idea behind this is that of “slandering” or “malicious gossip”.

iii) The devil would use every means to adversely affect believers.

iv) He would resort to lies and hurtful words to cause hurt and harm.

3. “Walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”

a) The devil is compared to a roaring lion:

i) Ferocious

ii) Hungry and mean

b) Seeking to devour:

i) He is actively prowling (walking).

ii) He is looking for prey that he can devour.

iii) Those who are not sober nor vigilant would become casualties.