Know Thy Enemy - Week 2: Monday

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Commentary

H.H. Pope Shenouda III
The Devil is an unceasing fighter: He never stops fighting, never tires nor takes a rest. He always, "walks about like a roaring lion " (1 Pet 5:8). In the story of Job, he told God twice that he was busy, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." (Job 1:7, 2:2). He watches his victims continuously and throws his seeds everywhere. Wherever the Lord plants wheat, he comes and plants tares, "but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way." (Matt 13:25).

The Devil is powerful: That is because he is one of the angels," Who excel in strength" according to the description of the psalmist in (Ps. 103:20). As an angel, he lost his purity, but did not lose his powerful nature. Though the devil is powerful, God is more powerful than Him. Not only did God subdue the devil for us but He let many of the fathers conquer him and the devil even feared them.

Questions

• What is the nature of the Devil?

• What is the nature of the Lord?

• What is the benefit, advantage, and disadvantage of enduring and fighting against temptation?

• Who helps us in this battle? How and why? • How can temptations strengthen you?