“Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!”
(Luke 1:37)
Peter is the de facto expert of stuffing it up. Of not leaving your troubles in God’s hands, in succumbing to the attacks of the devil. For crying out loud, he was called out by a chicken! He was so overcome by fear, that God sent him a chicken as a messenger… (proof positive that God has quite the sense of irony!)
So when he speaks on these topics, he has some authority…
Peter ends of his letter with 4-bullet powerpoint.
First, he starts of with: Submit to God. That means that you MUST also submit to His timing – it feels so obvious, but I know I suck at this! God gives me a word, and I just rev my engines, lets go already!
“If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. ” 1 Peter 5:6
Have you ever tried to do a group activity with paper, paint and glue with a bunch of little kids? You start of with “take your paper…” and at least one kid will already be covered in paint and another’s project will be glued to the hair of the girl with the blonde ponytails.
I often wonder if the angels are looking at us, then at God, then back at us, then back at God, going… “are you kidding me?!”
Anyhoo… then, he has a suggestion: Pour out your worries and stresses on God. Its one of those suggestions that you have to follow, otherwise you tend to die!
“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Think of a movie. Guy is hanging on a rope over the side of a cliff, he can’t get up, he can’t get down. His swinging around and attempts to save himself has already sheared the rope halfway through. Mr Rescuer comes down to save him.
At this point the dangling man needs to stop, and do what the rescuer tells him to do or not do. He needs to hand over all responsibility, because otherwise his rope will snap, and he. will. die.
Why is it so important to leave them there? Because there is a lion on the prowl. That depression, feelings of failure, stress will eat you alive and destroy you without you even noticing. One day you will just turn around and see a path of destruction and a trail of blood.
“Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
We need to pay attention. I am not sure why Peter refers to a roaring lion, but I have never seen a lion roar while stalking his prey. They do make quite a bit of noise while eating them though…
The point that he is making is that we need to pay attention, be alert. Recognize what is happening in front of you. Because it may be an attack on you (Have you put on your armor this morning?) or an attack on somebody in your circle of influence and authority (have you got your shield on your back and sword in hand? Standing in the gap, ready to repel all comers?) you need to recognize the difference, and adjust your fight.
Because what you need to do is to take a stand. Not stroll up to the fight with a “guys, guys, guys…” conciliatory attitude, but a decisive, strong and specific, break the door down, entry into the middle of the battle.
“Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith…” 1 Peter 5:9
Have peace with your brothers, and fight the devil. Not the other way round.
