January 27, 2023 | Be On Mission
Whether Elder or Young, Live Faithfully
Scripture: 1 Peter 5 (NIV)
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 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.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Devotional
1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” This assessment of the evil one is consistent throughout Scripture. Once when God asked Satan where he had come from, he answered, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7).
Way back before Cain killed his brother Abel, the Lord told him, “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you” (Genesis 4:7). Sadly, he gave in to those desires, as 1 John 3:12 says, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”
Jesus described the devil in this way: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Paul adds, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
But all is not lost. The devil can be defeated by the power of God in us! The full context of today’s reading from 1 Peter 5:8-9 gives us tools to defeat him: “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.” James 4:7-8 puts it plainly, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Satan and sin, trials and temptations have no permanent grip on those who belong to Christ. The Bible teaches us, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Yes, Satan is on the prowl, looking to devour you. But he can’t have you. You belong to Christ! Be alert. Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil. Look for the way out and take it. And tell the enemy of your soul, “Away from me Satan!”
Poem
Pasture Search Committee
1 Peter 5: 1-4
I’d like to find a local church
Where Shepherd knows the Master
Where Elders true are armored Up
To pray against disaster
Where Sheep may gather bleating sweet
The Psalmic hymns of praise
Where Little Lambs can frolic, leap
While older ones do graze
And when the thorns sink in my brow
Or I entangled be
There's balm enough to dress my wounds
Or bandage up my knee
A field of green to lie upon
Where butting's not allowed
Where fold is large and gate is strong
The foe to disavow
