Take a Stand - Week 3: Monday

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Commentary

Fr. Tadros Malaty | The First Epistle of St. Peter
The cause of the battle and the sufferings in this world is not human beings, but it is instead a battle between God and Satan. The devil is the enemy, and God is the Lord of all grace who perfects, establishes, strengthens and settles us for a victorious life. St. Augustine said: “We should not hate our brothers, but their enmities.” St. John Chrysostom, the suffering Archbishop said: “Till when are we going to oppose one another? Till when are we going to fight one another, so that the devil may laugh at us?” The devil is a very strong enemy, like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He is our enemy because of his enmity to God, and we are God’s image. He is our enemy because of his pride. He annoys us because he is jealous that we took his position from which he fell. In spite of all that, he does not have dominion over us unless we surrender to his will. He can deceive people, but he cannot oblige anyone. He seeks to devour everyone, but he cannot approach anyone, unless one allows him. St. Shenouda the archimandrite wrote an article about the incapability of the devil to dominate the children of God. St. John Chrysostom wrote three articles to refute those who say that the devil has dominion over us, by saying: The devils could not enter the pigs except with permission from the Lord Jesus. (Matt. 8:28-38)

Questions

• The devil is a master trickster. He cannot make me fall into sin, but he can make sin more elegant. When sin is elegant, it is easy to forget God and take Satan's bait. Knowing that Satan is out to get me, how do I guard myself?

• God is our refuge and power; A help in afflictions that severely befall us (Psalms 45:2). How do I shelter myself from evil? How do I take refuge in God?