Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NABRE
In this section of Peter’s letter written to those followers dispersed over the region of Asia-Minor, he is exhorting them to have humility and trust in God. He begins by telling them to clothe themselves in humility, God opposes the proud and favors the humble. It is a attitude seen modeled by Jesus and other early church leaders. God blesses the humble and Peter tells them to cast all their worries on God who cares for them (and us.) We read his recommendation to be sober and vigilant, meaning to be spiritually awake, alert and self-controlled. This posture can be seen as the opposite of those who are not following the way of Jesus, unaware of any pitfalls. But Peter says the devil is prowling, like a lion to devour. In their time the devil was doing whatever possible to trip up the beginnings of the church. For us today the devil uses our desires and thoughts to try and tempt us away from Christ. It is a perfect time for the devil because he uses distraction to stop us from being sober and vigilant. Today technology alone can provide many distractions and keep us from being focused. We must resist, depend on our faith knowing that every Christian has the same distractions and are struggling like us to be sober and vigilant.
Peter’s advice is needed as much today as it was when he first wrote. We are called to do a good work in God which is not possible if we don’t remain spiritually awake, alert and self-controlled. Pray to the Holy Spirit to fight off all distractions.
Are you sober and vigilant? What are the distractions in your life?
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