“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NLT
It is interesting how Peter was inspired to describe Satan. Our enemy, as a roaring lion, is on the prowl seeking whom he may “devour.” The word “devour here in Greek means to swallow up and destroy.”
Satan is looking for his next meal. He is hungry! Satan is swallowing and destroying people every day! As our society becomes more and more wicked, the devil has quite an assortment of sinners who become his "fast food" meals. He is like most of us who pick up a burger and fries at McDonald’s.
Satan is happy to pick up a high school kid who goes to a party and tries binge drinking for the first time--passing out to never regain consciousness.
It's a microwave dinner for the devil to enjoy when a drug addict shoots up his last time, a hopeless businessman leaves his wife and family in search of “something better” because of his sense of failure or even when a prostitute believes the lie of her pimp for the last time.
In fact, none of these even a challenge for Satan. For him, it's just "fast food." It’s nothing but a quick meal on the run to his next task. It is only an appetizer--it doesn't even satisfy him. Proverbs 27:20 states, "Hell and destruction are never full!"
But, when the devil wants a "gourmet meal" you know who he goes after? A Christian! Believers! A Pastor is a treat! A Sunday School teacher! A board member! A church musician even provides entertainment! The one in the "Amen" corner! A kid who's been raised in church is a choice morsel! The Deaf Café program can become his most favorite dessert! All of these make up many trips to the buffet table for Satan's big appetite.
He doesn't care how long it takes to prepare this meal. He doesn't care how long he has to "prowl around" seeking, as the Scripture says. He knows his next meal will be worth the wait.
Pastor Adrian Rogers says, “When you were born again, you were born to win!” Our new birth in Jesus Christ has fitted us for victory. We can spot what Satan is up to and overcome his world system.
We can live with victory over the desires of our flesh. Habits, attitudes, unclean desires, worries, and temptation must yield because we let God control authority over our mind, emotions, and will. We can actually put Satan and his demons to flight. We don’t have to be afraid of him — he will be afraid of us!
Do we sometimes feel defeated and overwhelmed about something? Say this out loud, “I was born to win!” Doesn’t that feel good? Now, look in the mirror and say it again! “I was born to win! I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!” (Philippians 4:13)
Still Alive...
11 years ago
