29 December 2006

After skipping a brief section about elders, we move into today's text. This will be the final devotion from 1 Peter.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of sufferings. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

We are never out of the range of our God who is present to swoop us up even though we are experiencing the worst of time. The call to faithfulness is one that is not determined by what is going on around us. That is, we are called to remain faithful no matter what is happening around us. It is so easy to be pulled away from the path of grace. In fact, the 'roaring lion' is not simply frightening. Rather, it often has its way with us - to has the ability to control us simply by its roar. When that is the condition of our lives, we become convinced that the way of our Lord, Jesus, is not really the way for us. Therefore, we turn and live according to the roars of the world. Here we are simply being told to resist such a voice - a threat - a beast as this. In the middle of all things we are told of this God who will make things new and bring us life - just as is promised. This is the strength of our days.

Connection: There can be quite a bit of roaring going on in our world. It often does a good job at limiting our lives. Remember, today we are encouraged to go on living along the way of our Lord even when the room rumbles with threat.

We give you thanks, gracious Lord, for being alongside us through all things. It can be so easy to trust other power and other sounds of greatness - but you alone love us and remain with us in and through all things. Thanks be to God. Amen.