1st Peter 5:8. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
YOUR ADVERSARY. 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 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 they 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 of a wise, cautious mind Though he can defend himself from 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.
“Holy God, my Father: please keep me from being spiritually sleepy in view of the dangers around from the wild beast. Give me awareness of his evil designs and the willingness to stand up in these times of opposition. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”