Together in Christ: 'Stay Alert!' — 1 Peter 5:8-9

We do not live in a benign and gentle world. The evil one and his demons are constantly at work, trying to tempt, distract, and destroy us. Paul put it very plainly, yet bluntly, to Christians in Ephesus:

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ^[1]

In today's verses, Peter was writing to people in a similar location and with similar challenges to remind them to be spiritually alert! Why? Because our enemy is powerful, like a lion on the prowl looking for its next meal. Then, Peter added two important insights:

1. We can stand strong in our faith, resist and defeat him. As James said, we can humble ourselves "before God [and we can] resist the devil, and he will flee" from us. ^[2] Resistance isn't futile; in fact, resistance is powerful when we draw close to God!
   
2. Satanic attack is the reality of being a part of the family of God in a world still under the influence of Satan. ^[3] But, on the cross, Jesus triumphed over the devil and his demons. ^[4]

We can strengthen our relationships with God and His children to help us stand firm and be strong! We can pray for each other, encourage each other, and support one another. ^[5] Having godly relationships empowers us to resist attacks from ungodly people and powers. The Spirit of God within us is stronger than the evil powers of the dark world arrayed against us. ^[6] So, let's support each other, draw near to each other in holy relationships, and draw close to our Father in heaven. We can find our strength in God and His family!