YOUR ADVERSARY. 1st Peter 5:8 We need to be alert and self-controlled because the devil (the slanderer) is moving about to undermine the testimony of any believer who has focused on himself and his troubles. We are to be self-controlled in view of our salvation; self-controlled in view of the nearness of the end; and self- controlled in view of the enemy's power. Clear, controlled thinking is the opposite of anxiety, which focuses on ourselves. It is important that we be watchful and spiritually alert to the devil's attacks, for he knows we are vulnerable when we are persecuted, suffering, and feeling alone and helpless. If we are cut off from believers, we are in acute danger. How important it is to keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ in firm faith. Then we are able to resist the devil, even as our Lord did when He was tested by the devil. We are not alone in this, because children of God all over the world are going through the same things.
He’s there, just outside the circle of Divine protection. Always moving, always looking for a fatal gap, a place unguarded by a sleeping watchman. Insatiable appetite burning his vitals with anger, making infernal noises that cause fear in human hearts. Intimidating believers by noise, mockery, and diabolical threats. Never resting in his lies and evil plans to consume—to stop those who live and breathe the air of freedom by grace.
So, there the elders stand, some awake in the night watches, others rising before dawn to take their place as guards. Those who say to God the names of the weak and aged, others who are young and don’t know the dangers of giving place to the devil, and they try to accommodate for some immature reason, thinking evil has a good intent. So, brother and sister “Vigilant” have to be awake to defend, to guard, to warn, to awaken those in danger, to intercede. But that is not all; the caring, humble person has to watch himself. He is under attack, too, so he has to be wise and cautious. Though he can defend himself against the roaring noises without, there is also the problem of noisy echoes of past failures, filling the ears of his mind with ancient and new accusations that the devil takes advantage of when seeking to devour. To stop an older believer would be a great victory. So, man the bulwarks of your responsibility – and watch.
Satan is our avowed enemy who will never cease to be hostile toward those who belong to the Lord, leveling constant accusations even before God. We dare not make a mistake about his intentions. During times of suffering or persecution, discouragement or despair, when we are focused on things or other people, he will attack as a roaring lion. He is cunning and cruel. He uses attractive temptations to make us drop our guard, and then he attacks with the intention of destroying us. If he does not succeed in destroying us, he will seek to destroy our testimony to the grace of God. He wants to devour a Christian spiritually, emotionally, and physically.