BE ALERT

Passage: 1 Peter 5:8-14

Key verse: 8

NIV

8 Be alert and of sober mind.(A) Your enemy the devil prowls around(B) like a roaring lion(C) looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him,(D) standing firm in the faith,(E) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.(F)

10 And the God of all grace, who called you(G) to his eternal glory(H) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,(I) will himself restore you and make you strong,(J) firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.(K)

Final Greetings

12 With the help of Silas,[a](L) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly,(M) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.(N)

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.(O) 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.(P)

Peace(Q) to all of you who are in Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 5:12 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

8 (A)Be sober-minded; (B)be watchful. Your (C)adversary the devil (D)prowls around (E)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 (F)Resist him, (G)firm in your faith, knowing that (H)the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And (I)after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, (J)who has called you to his (K)eternal glory in Christ, will himself (L)restore, (M)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 (N)To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

12 By (O)Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, (P)I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is (Q)the true grace of God. (R)Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does (S)Mark, my son. 14 (T)Greet one another with the kiss of love.

(U)Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The prowling devil

Our real enemy is the devil. He is always sneaking around, looking for a vulnerable spot to attack. So we must be alert--prayerful and clear about our faith and our commitment to Jesus. When the devil attacks, we must not be surprised or discouraged. Our fellow Christians throughout the world also suffer because of his attacks. When we resist the devil, he runs away.

2. God restores

God himself will restore us when we stand fast in faith and depend on his grace. He will make us strong, firm and steadfast. Peter was with Silas, and they were in Babylon. Babylon here may refer to Rome, or it may refer to a small city of that name near the Euphrates River. Mark is the writer of the second Gospel, and the spiritual son of Peter.

Prayer: Lord, I am weak and vulnerable. Protect me from the devil's skillful attacks.

One Word: Be alert and self-controlled.