The Opportunistic God: 1 Peter 5:1-14 - Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it, not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must be subject to the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. (NRSVue)

Lion by Valentin Delaye on flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0

With all the businesses that have been closing lately, I’m always excited when I see something new under construction. I think to myself, could it be that we’re finally getting a Trader Joe’s or a Chick-fil-A? Or Maybe a Rural King?

No. It’s going to be an auto parts store or dollar store.

It boggles the mind that little Leechburg is home to three dollar stores and three auto parts stores—because you can’t have an Auto Zone without an Advance Auto right across the street; or a Dollar General without a Family Dollar (or another Dollar General). Where there is one, the other (or others) will be.

You know who else works this way? “Wherever Christ builds his Church, the devil builds a chapel.” Martin Luther said that.

The apostle Peter is even more alarming. He writes, “Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.” And the devil’s most desired prey are the people of God.

That may sound very strange. One would think that when you become a Christian, you gain a kind of immunity from the devil, like a vaccine.

It’s far easier to see sin in other people than it is in yourself, especially considering the state our world is in.

Unfortunately, because you are a child of God, you are a greater target than someone who does not share your faith.

The devil employs two distinct strategies to destroy the life of Christ in you.

The first is to puff up your ego to the point that you walk around with a sense of entitlement; like the world owes you, because you are smart, hardworking, and successful. You don’t need forgiveness because you aren’t a sinner. You are just plain better than other people. This mindset lies beneath all the hatred and division we see in our society.

If the devil doesn’t succeed in making you believe that you can and should have it all, his second strategy is to tear you down with fear and shame. Constantly, you’ll be reminded of your shortcomings and failures; of how much better other people are than you; either in their material success or in the vibrancy of their faith. The devil wants fear to run your life—because when you are in fear’s grip, you pay no mind to the goodness of God, nor do you share that goodness with others. If you do not love yourself, how can you love the neighbor? What motivation do you have to do good for someone else, if you believe yourself to be no good?

I’m thankful Peter reminds us that we all contend, every day, with the devil—just like Jesus did.

Worry, temptation, suffering, doubt—all these come with the territory of being human. But you must not forget who’s really in charge; who truly has the power; who’s kingdom is going to triumph in the end—and it’s not the devil.

It’s true that where Christ builds his Church, the devil builds a chapel. But it is also true that wherever the devil a chapel, Jesus builds his Church. Whatever (or whoever) the devil tears down, Jesus will come to raise up. Jesus will not permit his beloved to be devoured by Satan. God’s Word of Truth will puncture the devil’s lies.

Therefore, when you come to the time of trial, you will always be able to resist. Then and there, you will learn how strong God can be.

When there is sin, there is forgiveness. When there is pain, there is healing. When there is failure, there is a new beginning. Even when there is death, there is always resurrection.

It’s no accident that Jesus devoted his ministry to the least and the lost. It’s no accident that when Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God, and when they came back and told their stories to Jesus, he saw Satan falling like a flash of light from heaven. It’s no accident that we, here, are meeting needs, healing hurts, and transforming lives. The Church of tomorrow arises out of the ashes of today’s struggles and pains. In this region of rust and decay, there is resurrection. Now is the time. This is the place. Satan is going down.

It’s time that we, as the Body of Christ, quit lamenting helplessly about the bleak state of our world, as if we can do nothing about it. It’s time that we start living into the victory of Christ.

So the next time you are compelled to acquire something or indulge in something, consider sharing something or giving something away. When you feel overwhelmed because you have so much to do, stop what you’re doing and refresh your soul with the grace of God. And the next time you find yourself in the grip of worry, cast your cares upon the one who cares for you. Look around yourself, take the time to remember the good things God has done for you, and let that give you confidence in God’s deliverance.

Why not show Satan who’s really in charge?