Do You Have Enemies?

1 Peter 5:8-9

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Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that everyone isn’t out to get you.

Have you ever felt like someone or a group of people are really out to get you? To tear you down, to trip you up, to make you fail. Do you have enemies?

Maybe we can identify some earthly enemies, but we all have spiritual enemies. God through the apostle Peter tells us this. He says

Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him by being firm in the faith. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

You have an enemy. Someone who wants to trip you up, tear you down, and make you fail. Someone that doesn’t want you to reach the paradise of heaven. The attacks that the devil’s schemes against us aren’t always easy to observe and detect. He is the wily foe.

We have a champion on our side. Jesus the Christ. He came and he overthrew the devil and resisted all of the devil’s temptations. He lived a perfect life and God says he lived it for you. So when the devil causes you to trip and stumble, causes you to sin, be of good cheer. Jesus has lived a perfect life for you and Jesus died the death that the devil really wanted you to die. He suffered in payment for all of your sins. Jesus has overcome the guilt of your sins is taken away.

So be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven. How should we live now that we know that Jesus is defeated the devil? It would be foolish to torment the devil. It would be foolish to dabble our feet in the water when we know he is lurking underneath. Let us be wise and stay close to Jesus. Then we will know that the devil will not overcome us and one day we will be in paradise safe from him forever. Stay close to Jesus. Amen.