1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
We had a visitor at our house early this morning. By early, I mean about 1:30 AM. A noise woke Pam and I from a sound sleep. It was not just a single bump. Rather, it was a prolonged series of bumps and thumps coming from outside of the down stairs area of our house. Not to be confused with the clatter of reindeer hooves on the rooftop. I jumped out of bed, looked out the window to see what I could see. There were tracks in the snow leading up to where the noise had come from. After carefully and thoroughly checking on the safety of the house, we went back to sleep. Or rather, tried to go back to sleep. When I checked the tracks this morning, I found that they were definitely not deer tracks as we first thought at 1:30 AM.
Our visitor and the tracks left in the snow brought to mind 1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Satan is constantly on the prowl. Ever on the look out for someone to ensnare in his little plots. Hoping to grab onto one more soul in a weakened state. Looking for the injured, the tired or exhausted to devour just like the lion on the hunt for the slow antelope. Each of us is clearly in Satan's sight. We are his most desired prey. He would like nothing better than to steal us away and devour us. But, thank God for Jesus Christ, who with His death and resurrection rescued us from the death in sin. He bore the pain and suffering of the cross that we could not and pulled us from the jaws of the roaring lion. But many in our world do not know they have been pulled free from those jaws. Many have not heard, or do not believe they have been set free. Sadly, there are too many in that category. Lambs waiting to be caught in the jaws of the lion. Today, you and I can make a difference. We are approaching the season of Advent. A season of new hope. Take the time to reach out to someone you know that is in danger of being devoured by the roaring lion. Invite them to join you in worship at an Advent service. Reach out in love. If you do not, then who will?
PRAYER: Father, the roaring lion in constantly looking for the next victim to devour. Satan desperately wishes to win the battle that was lost on the cross. Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ won the day and has pulled us from the jaws of the lion. Help us Dear Lord to stay strong in our faith. Guide us to those who do not know of the victory over sin that Christ has won for us. This we ask in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One God now and forever, Amen.
