5:7
As humans we have a tendency to exalt ourselves, we also have a tendency to anxiety. Both of these characteristics are part of our fallen condition. Just as we deal with pride/self-exaltation by trusting in the Lord and submitting to Him, so we do exactly the same with anxiety. We cast our anxiety on to Him, and we do this because He cares for us. The world tries to tell us that we are on our own, that we have to look after number one. This is why we get anxious, it is also why we try to exalt ourselves. The truth is that God actively cares for us. We need to learn to live in the light of this truth.
5:8
We are to be alert and sober minded. Why? Because the devil seeks to devour us. We need to be aware of the reality of the devil, we also need to be aware that we can overcome him, and part of the way of doing that is being alert and sober minded. Christian common sense is an exceedingly powerful spiritual weapon!
There are some who have preached that the devil prowls like a lion, but it is only like a lion and he doesn’t really have any teeth. This is nonsense and is nothing more than a cheap preaching point. Ask the Christian victims of Isis whether or not the devil has any teeth! The devil is a defeated enemy, and one we can overcome, but we need a sober minded approach in order to do so.
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