The Lions

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“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). Look at the loins in the wild. They never go after the big strong animals or even the baby animals that are in the middle of the large herd. They try to separate the weak sickly animals from the herd or get a baby off by its self. It does not even have to be very far from the group. It only has to get a few feet from safety then the loin is able to sneak in when no one is looking and take the baby or sick animal.
Many times we think that the devil is out to tempt us with big things. However, that is not what he does. Just like with the animals in the wild, he tries to make you think that going just a couple of feet away from safety is ok. Remember Jesus says that it is the little foxes that spoil a whole vineyard. The big things you can normally see and recognize from a mile away. The little things are not so easy to see or recognize.
However, this is why God says “… be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (I Peter 4:7). This means that you are suppose to stay alert, be mindful, watch out, and pray. Someone who is not sober has problems walking, talking, and thinking. Jesus wants us to be able to think. He gave us a brain so as we can read and think about his word. He wants us to pray for many reasons. One reason is because he can know things that we do not know. He knows where the loin is hiding and what we need to do in order to stay safe. Jesus knows what little thing will pull us away from safety, therefore he wants us to pay attention to the warning signs that he gives us.