Daily Bible Verses for 5/17/2016

Bible Verse
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Reading Notes
This first epistle of Peter was penned to fellow believers during a time of extreme persecution made worse by the emperor Nero, and spread throughout the Roman Empire. Peter wrote his letter to comfort and guide fellow believers and remind them to stay vigilant against the spiritual attacks of Satan, his demons and the world system, which is at enmity against God. Peter calls us to remember we live in a world energized by Satan and his demons. Their efforts are to stop the spread of the Gospel message, destroy God’s children and hinder any affects the word of God has on society today. Therefore, we have to remember we do not fight against flesh and blood! Rather, our fight is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. And more importantly, we do not fight under our own power, but by the power of God, using His armor which He has specially prepared for us!

Satan would love nothing more than for Christians to get caught up fighting and critiquing each other, thereby taking our focus off his attacks. And if He can’t do that, he will attack us in such a way as to thwart any and all efforts we make for the kingdom of God. In addition the Apostle Paul calls Satan the “prince of the power of the air” and Peter tells us, “he walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” This means, we have to understand Satan and his forces will do anything within their power to prevent people from accepting Jesus. And if they can’t do that they will do their best to make us ineffective for the kingdom of God and useless at spreading the Gospel message of faith in Jesus alone for salvation. It’s important that we remain steadfast in our faith, relying not on our power to overcome, but on the power of God who indwells us. It’s important we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to carry us through the trials and attacks we face while walking in this dark and dying world.