1 Peter 5:6-11

“Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” vs. 8

We can’t be sure if the disciple Peter was really the person who wrote the epistle bearing his name. But if it was, he certainly knew what he was talking about. He probably never forgot the day in Galilee, when Jesus, just after calling him the Rock, humbled him in front of his peers by saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter learned from that experience that temptations can come at us from most any direction.

Even our closest friends can lead us from the path of righteousness with empty promises and false assurances, and if we don’t have a strong moral compass we’re easy prey for deception.  Peter advised his readers to develop a solid self-discipline, one that will enable us to recognize those who are likely to confuse and deceive.

In this social media dominated culture the roaring lions prowl unimpeded through the morass of artificial intelligence and the scourge of those who call themselves “influencers.” There was a time when it was a terrible thing to be a liar and a deceiver, but in these latter days lying has become an artform and permeates every realm of society. Surely this is a time for constant vigilance and discipline. It’s much too easy to be victimized by those we thought we could trust!

Thought for the Day: Where does my life lack discipline?