Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"A Roaring Lion"
May 20, 2020
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
— 1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)
A roaring lion is scary. If I'm at the zoo and a lion starts to roar, I'm very happy to have a moat and a fence between me and him.
The devil is scary, too. Maybe that's why Peter refers to him as a "roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." The devil isn't someone to mess with, to take lightly, or play games with. He is dangerous, and we should keep our distance. The roar tells us so!
And yet, there's some comfort for us in this description of Satan. Peter specifically says he is "roaring." What does that mean? Amos the prophet tells us: "Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?" (Amos 3:4)
The answer is clearly no. A lion who is hot on your trail, stalking you, isn't going to roar. Why would he do that? It would only alert you that you were in danger. No, lions roar for many reasons, but not normally at that time.
Peter paints a picture of a frustrated lion—of Satan wanting to catch us, to devour us, but not able. Why? Because Jesus has placed Himself between us and the lion who wants us for breakfast. He is our Good Shepherd, and He has laid down His life to save us, the sheep of His pasture. Through His death and resurrection, He has brought us into God's safety.
It's no wonder the devil roars!
Let us then stay close to Jesus, for He is our life and protector. No matter how terrifying our situation is, nothing and no one can take us out of His hands.
THE PRAYER: Lord, help me to entrust myself into Your hands, especially when I am afraid. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. What things in life scare you as much as the roar of a lion?This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
2. What kinds of things should you do, or not do, around a roaring lion? How do these apply to the devil?
3. When you are afraid, how do you seek refuge in Jesus?
What things in life scare you as much as the roar of a lion?
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