1 Peter 5: 6 – 11
Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s powerful hand so that he may lift you up at the appointed time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him by being firm in the faith. You know that the same kinds of sufferings are being laid on your brotherhood all over the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen
Dear Heavenly Father,
Peter’s words remind us we are to humble ourselves; recognize how small and in need of your help we indeed are. We often look at ourselves in the mirror and puff ourselves up, thinking how awesome we are. However, we are susceptible to the tiniest of viruses that can wreak havoc in our lives. Or a bug can bite us and cause a severe reaction, even death. Or we could miss seeing a bus that runs us over. Our lives lay in the balance every day, and we could worry about everything; it seems just about anything could end our lives: viruses, bugs, or buses.
When we realize our frailty, we have to throw all our concerns on you because you care for us and protect us day and night. You demonstrated your concern for us by sending Jesus to suffer and die on the cross to pay the price for all our sins. Sin was an even more significant concern than a virus, a bug, or a bus because our sins condemned us; they separated us from you. But we are credited with Jesus’ holy life, whose innocent death was for our sins. And as Paul wrote, he became sin who knew no sin, and we are restored to eternal life through faith in Jesus.
Peter reminded us to be alert but not fearful because Satan wanders like a roaring lion looking to devour us. He wants to put us back into the chains of hopelessness and sin’s despair. We are not alone in this; all around the world, Christians are being pursued by Satan and his fellow evil angels, wanting to take us all down with them. We pray for fellow Christians that you would protect them and keep them vigilant in their faith. We also pray for those who do not know you yet that you would provide us an opportunity to give them the hope that only comes to us through faith in Jesus our Savior that they, too, would be restored to you. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Through faith in Jesus, you have nothing to worry about; place all your cares and concerns on him because he cares for you. He already demonstrated his care by dying on the cross for your sins so you would have eternal life.