TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THE LONE BLOCK
26th January 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: I 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.”
Watching National Geographic channel (NatGeoWild) on TV can be both a fascinating and eye-opening experience. It gives you an understanding of the behavioural patterns of wild animals, how they hunt etc.
One such interesting discoveries for me was finding out that it’s the female lion that actually hunts the prey. All the male lion does is roar to cause the pack of preys to run and scatter in disarray. Once they scatter, the lioness can easily pick out an isolated prey to pounce on.
In our text today, Peter uses a roaring lion to describe the devil. This means that the devil uses the same technique. He roars to instill fear, and then “seeks whom he may devour”. His roar is in the form of circumstances, challenges, lies and temptations, all with the sole aim of making us lose our faith in Christ and walk in fear. It’s only those that embrace the fear, and isolate themselves that he can devour.
But we already have the victory in Christ! The devil has no power. He has been shamelessly disarmed and disgraced. He can only roar. Verse 9 says to resist him by being steadfast in the faith. The battle for the believer is the battle to keep the faith regardless of the situation that confronts us. It is important to always remember that the battle or challenge is only a trial of your faith.
Another key thing is for us to stay in the company of brethren. It is so key for this fight. Don’t fall for the temptation to withdraw yourself from church and fellowship when life gets tough or when someone in church offends you. It’s the devil’s strategy to isolate you and make you vulnerable.
As believers, we now form an integral part of the household of God, each of us like a block in the building of God’s house being fitted together to make a formidable building. (Ephesians 2:20-21) So we cannot afford to exist as “lone blocks”. Our survival is dependent on how well we are connected to the body, a body that has been built on Christ the chief cornerstone.
This is why you should take very seriously the place of fellowship with other members of the body. It’s not only a means of preserving our faith and resisting the devil, it’s also our act of service to others as we encourage them to stay in the faith.
REFLECTION
How does my response to challenges help or frustrate Satan’s strategy?
DECLARATION
I am in Christ
I have been built on Christ.
Because I am born of God, I have overcome.
Christ is my victory over any and every thing.
I was present in the death that destroyed the devil and I rose.
Because I am fitly framed, I can never walk alone.
I enjoy the benefits of fellowship in the body of Christ.
All God’s promises for me are Yes and Amen.
I am blessed!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to The Mind of Christ >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
