Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:8-9
On this Halloween edition, the good folks at biblegateway.com want us to think about something/someone evil. Thus, they give us the devil.
The Greek word for devil is διάβολος (diabolos) which literally means slanderer, false accuser, and unjust criticizer whose intention is to hurt or condemn. One could say that diabolos seeks to sever relationships.
Now put this in context in Peter’s letter. The author is concerned that the evil one prowling around for a meal has you and I on the menu. By deceiving us, his (or her) goal is to sever our relationship with God and one another. Peter is telling us to be keenly aware of this. In other words, pay attention.
Then Peter reminds us that there is power in a support group. This struggle we face is something we share with all of the Christian family around the world. The good news is…
We are not alone!
Sometimes, we become complacent in our walk. We don’t tend to our relationship with our Lord and fellow Christians, and slowly and surely the whispers of the slanderer slip in. So we must be diligent and be ever conscious of our relationship with “42” as we walk in this jungle. And never forget to cling to one another on this journey.
SEARCHING FOR 42 