Wide Awake!

1st Peter 5:1-9

There are few things I enjoy like a quiet, rainy afternoon. I turn the volume down on the TV, put on a music channel and watch the trees sway in the breeze, listening to the rain. BAM!!!! Both of my dogs explode with barking. The big one, all 90+ pounds of her (she was sleeping next to me at the time) jumps on me and bounds away after the little dog, who is leading the charge to the front door. What caused such domestic disharmony?? The UPS driver is 50 feet from our front door!!! REALLY??? I almost had a heart attack. Let me tell you, I was wide awake then.

This fun filled afternoon brought to mind 1st Peter 5:8. One of Satans greatest weapons is the common misconception that he is a negative cosmic force. That he is some type of "Ying to Gods Yang". He is a real physical being, not some negative energy. Peter calls him a roaring lion. Now I don't know about you, but speaking for myself, I am allergic to anything that has a larger apatite and more teeth than me. We are encouraged by Peter to always be on guard. Always. His ways are very subtle as well. Take Adam and Eve.(Gen. 3:1-7) Gen. 3:1 calls him crafty (NIV) "Did God really say....?" I can't think of anything much worse than a Raging, rampaging beast, who is smart enough to trick us into sin, but that is what the bible is teaching. Is there any wonder Peter warns us not to be lulled into a false sense of immunity to sin? Just because we are Gods elect does not mean we are immune to Satans trickery. Paul warns us as well, that we are drawn into sin by the things we desire or want to do. Just because something is the oldest trick in the book, does not make it less effective. After all, how do you think it has been around so long? We must be watchful and on guard at all times for the enemies advance. The moment we relax or become over confident, he is right there to plot our down fall. Thank God for grace and forgiveness. We have all heard the cautionary tales of great people of God falling into his traps.Obviously sinful behavior. There is nothing wrong with asking, "Would Jesus do this?", "How would God feel about that?"  It is good to rest and recharge, but we must remain vivilant. Let us pray:

Lord often we fall prey to the enemy, far to often. Your grace is there to see us through. We can come to you and seek your forgiveness alway. No matter how darkwe view the stain of guilt. Always. We ask this day that your Spirit will help us to be on guard for Satans's plots and schemes. Help us to make a conscience choice to stay vigilant.You are God, our Father. We are your children and we depend on you. We praise you and it is in Jesus' Holy name we pray, Amen.