Don’t Become “Lion Food”

In 1 Peter 5, in the middle of some words on humility, Peter writes the following verse:  ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.   We are told that the devil is like a lion who is looking for some lunch.  Satan is not some passive little “guy” in a red leotard with a pitchfork in his hand.  No, he is actively seeking to ruin the lives of God’s creation.  He is actively walking around, tempting and luring people away from the things of God and the person of God.  One of Satan’s most effective weapons is human pride.  Right before the verse above Peter writes this, ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

I was picturing a flock of gazelles grazing on the African plain.  Their best defense against a prowling lion is attentiveness and fear.  If the gazelles get  prideful, thinking that they are smarter than the lion or that they can outrun the lion or that the lion would never attack them, they would be at great risk of becoming the lion’s lunch.  I think we’re like those gazelles in some ways.  If we become prideful, thinking that we are above God, or that our abilities and gifts are all that we need, we become like a lazy gazelle.  When Satan pounces on us, we will not be ready to submit to God.  We we will not humble ourselves under HIs mighty hand.  The hand of God is far, far greater than anything that Satan can throw at us, but when we remove ourselves from under His hand, we are very, very vulnerable.  So, let’s not become the lion’s lunch.  Let’s be sober and vigilant, guarding ourselves against pride.  Trusting in God’s grace and His riches to get us through the day.