Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, pilgrims.

If we understand that none of us have ever been precisely where we are right now, I guess that’s an appropriate title—“pilgrim.” I trust you are a pilgrim making progress. And, of course, the standard for measuring progress is not determined by how many things you are able to cross off your TO DO list. If that were the standard, I’d be a basket case.

I have people coming…one being a guy driving up from Nevada to pick up a bunch of lumber for a house on his ranch.

Have a blessed day. Love, Dad/Ray

There is much in this chapter that is worthy of our attention, but I think I will settle on the exhortation from Peter to “be self-controlled and alert.” Why is this advice important to Peter? Because he recognizes something that most people, even some believers, don’t—“your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Have you ever observed a cat stalking a mouse? While the mouse is watching and alert, the cat is dead still. But when the attention of the mouse is shifted to something else like eating or sniffing around, and he wanders a little too far from his protective hole, that’s when the cat moves in closer. He’ll keep that approach up till he is within striking distance. At that point the mouse is no match for the cat. The same tactic is used by humans when hunting deer or any other kind of game. It’s a strategy I have used countless times while spear fishing.

The point is that Satan is no match for us as long as we are self-controlled, alert, and strong in the Lord. But when we shift our attention from that focus and priority, when self is allowed to go out of control, becoming careless and distracted by other things that are in conflict with the Word and the will of our Lord, we make ourselves vulnerable and are no match for Satan.

It is very good to know that we are given the option with resources to successfully “resist him” (v. 9). How? By “standing firm in the faith.” What do we mean by this faith? It’s the great assurance that Christ within is our personal Savior, Security, and Sovereign. It includes the belief that apart from a close relationship with Him there is no hope of winning over Satan and his devices. Believe it…and live it. We’re talking about the key that guarantees a life of Christian victory and sets one apart from the weak, wimpy, and contaminated version thereof.