(4) All My Devotion: Game On

I Peter 5:8 (YLT) Be sober, vigilant, because your opponent the devil, as a roaring lion, he does walk about, seeking whom he may swallow up.

This verse (I Peter 5:8) comes right after the verse that says; (cast all your cares on Him because He cares for YOU!) I love sports so this version of I Peter 5:8 stirred something in me. I immediately paralleled it to basketball. In the game of basketball, when you are out of bounds, your opponent is in your face and you are trying to throw the ball to your teammate, this was the first picture in my head. In that situation, your opponent can NOT touch YOU without getting a foul. The opponent can touch the ball BUT NOT YOU!!!! The following verses in I Peter 5, say that like Christ suffered you may suffer for a little while, but His grace will complete, establish and strengthen your ground (foundation). Once your ball (your purpose) reaches your teammate, GAME ON! The opponents don’t leave the court though, do they? GAME ON! This is Spiritual Warfare my friends…there are rules and the devil doesn’t play fair. We have sick family members; some are dying with diseases that were never intended for God’s creation. Some of our loved ones deny the eternal home that Christ already paid for with His very own blood…the devil doesn’t play fair. He (the devil) is the liar, not God, he is the thief, NOT GOD, he is the killer, NOT GOD, and he (the devil) is the one who seeks to destroy your life and anyone who is designed in the image of God. This is you my friend, this is me. BUT GOOD NEWS! We are teammates, God is in charge; He has a plan. Christ is the defensive Coach and the Holy Spirit is Master of the game plan and wants to coach us through this thing. If we read and meditate on the game book (the Bible) we will know how to defeat the opposing team (the devil and his demons). We can’t lose if we are sober-minded (focused) and vigilant (self-controlled) to get in the game. GAME ON!

Prayer

Lord, help me remember I’m already on the winning team. Help me to be focused and self-controlled not on the scoreboard but on the Spiritual reality that the devil is a liar, a thief and a killer who does not play fair. BUT GOD said fear not I have overcome the WORLD. Not even death could contain our God! It not just a game Lord, it’s a war zone these days. I commit to remember whose team I’m on and who You are Lord and to read and meditate on Your Word daily, in Jesus name, Amen.