8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

— 1 Peter 5:8-9

And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.

— Revelation 12:10

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

— 1 John 2:1

11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

— Romans 8:11, 26, 34

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God’s adversary Satan tries to accuse and paralyze God’s children. He frequently reminds us of our guilt and inadequacy. While Satan is right about what we deserve, he does not want us to remember God’s undeserved grace and mercy. We rightly recognize our human frailty but must also comprehend the power of Almighty God within us. When Satan tries to steal our joy or fruitfulness, our Savior Jesus Christ advocates for us. He lifts us up and calls us His own. He cleanses us from sin and empowers us to do what His call requires.

God works in this world through His people and the power of His Spirit. Though obstacles loom large and opposition appears strong, God dwells with His people and fills them with His power. God’s eternal work cannot be accomplished apart from the Holy Spirit’s power. God’s purposes cannot be measured by what looks small and insignificant in human eyes. Praise God that He provides everything we need as we live for Him in this world.