咆哮的獅子

咆哮的獅子
聖經閱讀：彼得前書5:6-11 現代中譯本|合和本
2013年11月8日(五)

大部份人在獅子的附近都會很小心，為什麼呢？因為獅子會攻擊人，把人殺死。今天的經文中，彼得談到一頭咆哮的獅子，但是這頭獅子並不是你在動物園裡看到的那種。 　彼得所說的這頭「咆哮的獅子」是指魔鬼。第8節說：「你們的仇敵─魔鬼正像咆哮的獅子走來走去，搜索可吞吃的人。」魔鬼總是在我們的四周，誘惑我們去犯罪，牠希望我們永遠跟上帝隔絕。 　在以弗所書6:12b，保羅提醒我們，我們在世上爭戰的對象並不是其他人，「而是對天界的邪靈」。今天經文的第8和第9節也告訴我們要如何抵擋魔鬼：我們必須控制住自己，隨時儆醒，拒絕跟從魔鬼，並且堅定自己的信心。 　今天要小心魔鬼，就讓上帝幫助你站立得穩並聽從祂的話語。 —JA* 「那位賜一切恩典的上帝，就是呼召你們藉著跟基督耶穌連結來分享他永遠的榮耀的上帝，必定親自重建你們，堅定你們，賜力量和鞏固的根基給你們。」 彼得前書5:10b 禱告：天父，謝謝祢幫助我抵擋魔鬼。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (陳美婷譯)

Roaring Lion
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-11
Friday, November 8, 2013

Most people are very careful around lions. Why? Because lions can attack and kill people. In our Bible Reading today, Peter talks about a roaring lion. But this lion is not the kind you can see in a zoo. 　The roaring lion that Peter is talking about is the devil. Verse 8b says, “The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat.” The devil is always around us, tempting us to sin. He wants us to be separated from God forever. 　In Ephesians 6:12b, Paul reminds us that our struggles here on earth are not against other people. “We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places.” Verses 8 and 9 of our Bible Reading tell us how we can resist the devil. We need to control ourselves, be careful, refuse to follow the devil, and stand strong in our faith. 　Watch out for the devil today. Let God help you stand strong and obey His Word. —JA* “God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ.” 1 Peter 5:10b PRAYER: Father, thank You for helping me resist the devil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.